Man Utd book EFL Cup Wembley place

Manchester United have booked their place in the EFL Cup final next month despite losing 2-1 to Hull City at the KCOM Stadium, progressing 3-2 on aggregate.

Leading 2-0 from the first leg at Old Trafford, Utd were expected to complete the job without too much hassle against their struggling opponents but Marco Silva's side almost produced a memorable turnaround.

Having dominated the opening half-hour, the Tigers took the lead when referee Jon Moss penalised Marcos Rojo for a pull in the penalty box on Harry Maguire, with Tom Huddlestone firing home the resulting spot-kick.

Hull showed signs in their loss at Chelsea last Sunday that Silva was putting his stamp on the team and they were full value for their lead.

After a wretched first-half showing, the visitors improved slightly after the break and when Paul Pogba poked home from 10 yards on 66 minutes, the game looked lost for Hull.

Rojo headed against the bar for Utd before Oumar Niasse then did likewise for Hull; the latter then set up a grandstand finish when he swept home David Meyler's superb cross for his first goal for the club.

Another goal would have sent the game into extra-time but Utd held on and they will meet Southampton at Wembley on February 26th.

The loss was Utd's first in 18 games and the manner in which Hull played will give them much confidence that they can win their fight against the drop.

Although they held a commanding lead from the first leg at Old Trafford a fortnight ago, Jose Mourinho opted to select a very strong side with Michael Carrick returning to rejoin Pogba and Ander Herrera in midfield while Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford got the nod to play either side of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

While Henrik Mkhitaryan was named on the bench, Anthony Martial – fresh from receiving a public warning from Mourinho that he needed to grasp the opportunities given to him – did not make the final 18.

Considering the strong words the Utd boss had for Martial, the display of his team in the first half was surprising; the visitors were completely off the pace, failing to press Hull in possession and slow to tackle.

The hosts meanwhile were showing more encouraging signs of the new organisation new boss Silva has instilled in them, confident in their ability to retain possession and forcing Utd into making mistakes via their concerted pressing.

Hull deservedly went ahead on 35 minutes when Huddlestone’s powerful penalty beat the dive of David de Gea.

Surprisingly, Mourinho made no changes at the break and he saw his side lift their performance a level or two after the break; when Pogba finished from close range it looked like they would coast into the final.

Rojo came close to extinguishing any notions of an unlikely comeback when his powerful header from close range crashed off the crossbar with David Marshall beaten.

Hull saw an effort of their own hit the woodwork minutes later when from a corner Niasse outjumped Phil Jones but his header clipped the bar and went over for a goal-kick.

Niasse set up an interesting finale when he finished from close range with five minutes on the clock but Utd closed out the game and are close to earning their first win in the competition since 2010.

Photo: Getty Images/Alex Livesey

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