Manchester United beat Hull City 2-0 in Tuesday’s League Cup semifinal first leg at Old Trafford courtesy of goals from midfielders Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini.
Mata, enjoying a good run in front of the goal over the past weeks, broke Hull’s resilience in the 56th minute before substitute Fellaini made sure of victory late on.
It was a ninth consecutive victory in all competitions for Jose Mourinho’s men and puts the Red Devils in a great position ahead of the return leg on January 26.
Mourinho made seven changes to the team that breezed past Reading 4-0 in the FA Cup on Saturday, but United maintained their intensity, pounding the Hull goal area with intent.
Mata provided the breakthrough, volleying at the back post after Antonio Valencia’s cross from the right was headed back across goal by Mkhitaryan.
With injury time approaching, Fellaini’s looping header, off a Matteo Darmian’s cross, beat Huddlestone on the line for United’s second goal.
Liverpool are away at struggling Southampton in the first leg of the second semifinal on Wednesday.
