HULL CITY 2, MANCHESTER UNITED 1 (EFL Cup semi-final, UNITED WIN 3-2 ON AGGREGATE)
- Tom Huddlestone penalty gives Hull City the lead
- Paul Pogba levels the game in the second half
- Oumar Niasse scores the winner on the night for Hull City
- Manchester United progress to the EFL Cup final 3-2 on aggregate despite losing for the first time in 17 games
Manchester United reached the final of the EFL Cup despite losing 2-1 on the night to a spirited Hull City side in the second leg of the semi final at the KCOM Stadium.
It’s their second consecutive cup final in two seasons but the Reds barely raised themselves during freezing conditions on the east coast.
With a three games in six days, including a Premier League clash at Old Trafford next Wednesday, both sides fielded opted for changes, with Reds boss Jose Mourinho making five alteration in his starting line-up.
Marcos Rojo, Matteo Darmian, Michael Carrick, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford came in for Antonio Valencia, Daley Blind, Marouane Fellaini, Juan Mata and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Hull, with seven changes, were missing Robert Snodgrass, who was expected to join West Ham imminently, and Ryan Mason who sustained a serious head injury at Chelsea last weekend.
The Reds had a 2-0 first leg lead to defend in East Yorkshire but found their hosts in the mood to try for an upset.
Tom Huddlestone gave the Tigers a first half lead from a penalty after Marcos Rojo had pulled Harry Maguire’s shirt in the 35th minute during a set piece move.
Chances to reply came from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Jesse Lingard before Hull’s hopes of upsetting the Reds’ march on Wembley were effectively ended in the 66th minute when Paul Pogba beat Maguire to equalise from 10 yards out – it was his eighth goal of the season for United.
Rojo and Hull’s Oumar Niasse had already hit the woodwork when the Tigers midfielder converted David Meyler’s cross in the 85th minute and the home side hung on to end United’s 17-game unbeaten run.
The opportunity to avenge their cup defeat will come in six days back at Old Trafford when Marco Silva’s side attempt to stave off relegation but United will have to raise their game to prevent an FA Cup upset by Wigan.
United’s Premier League clash with Manchester City which was originally scheduled for February 26, will now be postponed until later in the season.
If, as expected, the rescheduled game takes place in April it could mean the Reds will have a run-in containing games against City, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Spurs in a matter of weeks.