Man Utd beat Hull, approaching League Cup final

Two goals from Mata and Fellaini helped coach Jose Mourinho's team win 2-0 at home in the first leg of the semi-final last night, January 10.

Goals: Mata 56', Fellani 87'

As stated before the match, Jose Mourinho used almost the strongest lineup, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic being the only significant absence. Hull City also did not have captain Michael Dawson due to injury and have not found stability since the appointment of Mourinho's compatriot Marco Silva to the chair.Coach.

The Old Trafford home team thus had the upper hand in the game, but also encountered strong resistance from the away team in the first 45 minutes. In the second minute, Juan Mata forced goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic to fly out to push away a quick and dangerous shot after a cross from Matteo Darmian. Jakupovic then successfully blocked a long-range shot from Paul Pogba. In the 18th minute, it was Henrikh Mkhitaryan's turn to have a chance but he tapped the ball wide in a favorable position.

Hull's most notable first-half move was Adama Diomande's header hitting the post after a Robert Snodgrass free-kick, but the referee flagged offside for the first player to receive the ball before it reached Diomande.

Mata helps Man Utd break the deadlock. Photo: Reuters.

In the second half, Man Utd increased the tempo of the game, and quickly opened the scoring through Mata. It was a close-range tap-in from the Spanish midfielder after a header from Mkhitaryan. This was Mata's third goal in his last four matches in this arena.

This goal immediately helped the home team relieve the pressure. In the 73rd minute, the gap could have been doubled if Pogba's free kick had not been denied by the post. However, Man Utd fans did not have to wait much longer to see the second goal of the home team. With about three minutes left in the second half, Marouane Fellaini - who had previously replaced Mata - sealed the score when he took advantage of Darmian's cross to head the ball into the Hull net.

Wayne Rooney started the match and played 60 minutes before being replaced by Anthony Martial. The Man Utd captain received a lot of attention after equaling the legendary Bobby Charlton's record of 249 goals for the "Red Devils", and just one more goal would make him the club's all-time leading scorer.

Rooney had two chances to do so, but failed to do so. First, he failed to meet Marcus Rashford's cross in the 10th minute and then he shot wide after Pogba's excellent long pass.

Rooney missed the chance to break the scoring record in this match. Photo: Reuters.

With Chelsea 10 points behind leaders Chelsea in the Premier League, and the FA Cup only in the fourth round, Mourinho is showing his seriousness with the League Cup. The Portuguese coach is aiming for his first Cup with Man Utd in this arena.

Yesterday's match was also the ninth consecutive victory in all competitions for the Old Trafford team, their best winning streak since February 2009.

According to VNE