Manchester United dio un paso importante para alcanzar la final de la Copa EFL, con goles de Juan Mata y Marouane Fellaini se impusieron 2-0 sobre Hull City en la ida de la semifinal.
Los Rojos tuvieron que ser pacientes contra los resistentes Tigres pero, después de una frustrante primera mitad en Old Trafford, el impresionante Juan Mata alivió los nervios persistentes al abrir la cuenta en el minuto 55.
Después de que Paul Pogba hubiera golpeado un poste con un tiro libre, el sustituto Marouane Fellaini puso más luz del día entre las dos partes con un cabezazo a los 87 minutos para el 2-0.
Con la comodidad de una ventaja de dos goles en la segunda ronda en el KCOM Stadium el 26 de enero, los hombres de José Mourinho buscarán la clasificacion a la final que se jugará en Wembley para enfrentarse a Southampton o Liverpool el próximo mes.
A pesar del crucial encuentro de la Premier League contra el Liverpool en el horizonte, Mourinho -que ha expresado su deseo de levantar la Copa de la Liga por cuarta vez en su carrera- lanzó una línea de ataque que muestra siete cambios desde la victoria de la FA Cup ante Reading, El goleador Zlatan Ibrahimovic se perdió el partido por enfermedad.
Manchester United took a step closer to reaching the EFL Cup final as goals from Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini earned the Reds a 2-0 victory over Hull City in the first leg of the semi-final.
The Reds had to be patient against the resilient Tigers but, after a frustrating first half at Old Trafford, the impressive Juan Mata eased any lingering nerves by poking home from close range in the 55th minute.
After Paul Pogba had earlier struck a post with a free-kick, substitute Marouane Fellaini put further daylight between the two sides with a header late on.
With the comfort of a two-goal advantage heading into the second leg at the KCOM Stadium on January 26, Jose Mourinho’s men will be confident of progressing to Wembley to face either Southampton or Liverpool next month.
Despite the crucial Premier League encounter against Liverpool on the horizon, Mourinho – who has expressed his desire to lift the League Cup for the fourth time in his career – fielded an attacking line-up showing seven changes from Saturday’s FA Cup win over Reading but top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed out through illness.
The Reds almost took the lead as early as the second minute after Matteo Darmian broke up Hull’s passing sequence and sped down the left-hand side before picking out Mata, whose curling shot from the edge of the area was parried by Hull goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic.
Hull, currently bottom of the Premier League, have never previously reached this stage of the competition