Nigeria star helps Hull stun Man Utd
by Kickoff Reporter · KickOffManchester United were left stunned in their opening Premier League game after losing 2-0 to newly-promoted Hull City on Saturday afternoon.
Teams: Hull City v Manchester United
Result: 2-0
Scorers: Ajayi (17'), Mendy (38')
It was back to business for the Red Devils in the first full tenure of Michael Carrick and buoyed by last season’s third-place finish, as the host began life back in the top flight following a nine-year absence.
Carrick’s men nearly made the perfect start with 12 minutes played when a ball from a left-sided cross bounced in the area and fell perfectly for Bryan Mbeumo to unleash a first-time shot, but goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis flapped it away.
Hull sustained the early pressure and nearly had the lead two minutes later with a pin-point header to the near post by Oli McBurnie forced goalkeeper Senne Lammens to repelled emphatically.
The decent spell paid dividends for the host who stole a march three minutes later as Semi Ajayi latched onto a rebound off the post in the area following a palm by Lammens and stabbed into an empty net.
Hull made full use of their ascendancy eight minutes to the break and added to their tally when Nobel Mendy showed great agility to head home an in-swinging free-kick by Regan Slater and opened his account on debut.
Second Half:
Following an underwhelming first stanza, the Red Devils were forced to revive their personnel ahead of the second period as Patrick Dorgu vacated for the returning Marcus Rashford.
The Red Devils made a bright start to the second half and almost halved the deficit with a header in the box by Ayden Heaven following a pin-point cross by Bruno Fernandes, but the effort went wide of the mark.
Carrick’s men still showed endeavour after a decent spell and launched another opening moments later when a cross to the back-post from Luke Shaw picked out Noussair Mazraoui, but he failed to nod in and strayed off target.
The Tigers struggled to regain momentum and conceded another chance late on when Matheus Cunha came deep to collect possession and played a through pass to Mbeumo to touch past his marker and cut-in for a shot, but Tzolakis parried.
Following persistent pressure in the latter stages, the Red Devils couldn’t get a way in and started the season on the back-foot as the Tigers claimed a big scalp on their return to the Premier League.
Upcoming Fixtures:
Hull City:
1. Coventry City (A)
2. Aston Villa (H)
3. Chelsea (A)
Manchester United:
1. Ipswich Town (H)
2. Everton (A)
3. Manchester City (H)