Manchester United extended their winning run to 8 games in all competition with a 2-0 win over Hull City in the EFL Cup semi-final first leg at Old Trafford.
Jose Mourinho made seven changes to the starting eleven that won 4-0 against Reading last week in the FA Cup with the likes of Paul Pogba, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and David de Gea returning to the team. However, the Red Devils could not find a way past a resilient Hull City defence in the first half.
Mata came close to open the scoring but was denied by Eldin Jakupovic, Mkhitaryan also had a good chance to score from a Matteo Darmian cut-back but the Armenia international hit the ball wide as the visitors managed to keep their fancied opponents at the bay going into the break.
Jose Mourinho’s side finally broke ahead just before the hour mark when Mata tapped in from Mkhitaryan’s header across the goal. Marouane Fellaini then doubled United’s lead three minutes from time to give them a two-goal cushion for the second leg which will be played on January 26 at the KCOM Stadium.
Let us how Twitter reacted to the match:
Winning mentality…the streak continues? @ManUtd #EFLCup pic.twitter.com/C48VzfSu3U
— Henrikh Mkhitaryan (@HenrikhMkh) January 10, 2017
Say what you like about his time at other clubs, but Jose Mourinho was made for Manchester United.
He just gets it.
— Adam Sweeney (@AdamWSweeney) January 10, 2017
9 – Manchester United have won their last 9 games in all competitions, their best run since winning 11 in a row in Feb 2009. Formidable.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 10, 2017
Manchester United's shooting has been horrendous. It's like watching the BDO Darts lads try and hit doubles.
— ODDSbible (@ODDSbible) January 10, 2017
Mata goal✔
Micki assist✔
Fellaini goal ✔
Clean sheet✔
Attacking ⚽️✔
EFL Cup final✔
9 straight wins✔Mourinho's United✔#MUFC / #EFLCup pic.twitter.com/5kd3bAM4jK
— RedDevilTimes (@RedDevilTimes) January 10, 2017
A much harder night than Manchester United would have wanted, but another win and a clear path to the season's first final. #MUNHUL
— Duncan Castles (@DuncanCastles) January 10, 2017
https://twitter.com/DeanCoombes/status/818931009949495297
https://twitter.com/BilboRocky/status/818938164245041153
https://twitter.com/90thMin/status/818948628106670080
Mata and Fellaini, Moyes's two signings, put Man Utd on verge of EFL Cup Final..
— Mark Ogden (@MarkOgden_) January 10, 2017
https://twitter.com/RedRelated/status/818939681870118914
Hopefully that VERY important goal from Fellaini gets fans off his back. Ridiculous that they were even booing him! Well taken.
— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) January 10, 2017