Hull 2 Man United 1 (2-3 agg): Paul Pogba sends Jose Mourinho to first final as Red Devils boss as they survive second-leg scare to set up Wembley date with Southampton
The Tigers battled throughout but United were too strong and will now go on to face Southampton at Wembley
PAUL POGBA'S second-half strike sealed Manchester United's place in the EFL Cup final.
Tom Huddlestone gave the Tigers hope with his well placed penalty after Marcus Rojo felled Harry MaGuire.
But United's world record signing was on hand to regain the advantage before Omour Niasse netted to set up a nervy last five minutes.
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Hull - who warmed up wearing shirts with recovering defender Ryan Mason's name on the back - were the much better team in the first half.
Michael Dawson had a chance to give the Tigers a 26 minute lead after Rojo failed to pick up the defender who took the ball down but could not find the target.
The rebound fell to Niasse but fired the ball straight at David De Gea in the United net.
But Hull did find a way back into the tie on 35 minutes through a soft penalty as MaGuire went to ground after a coming together with Rojo.
Tom Huddlestone - who won the League Cup with Spurs in 2008 - stepped up and smashed the ball into the bottom corner to keep the Tigers hopes alive.
David Marshall then kept the score at one three minutes later as he got down well to tip Zlatan Ibrahimovic's curling effort around the post.
United were outraged just eight minutes into the second half as Huddlestone brought down Smalling in the box but referee Jonathan Moss waved away the penalty claim.
But on 66 minutes United restored their two-goal advantage as the unfortunate Huddlestone poked the ball away from Marcus Rashford but only into the path of Pogba.
The £89million summer signing then calmly passed the ball past Marshall to ease United's nerves.
Marcus Rojo then rattled the bar with a towering header before Niasse did the same at the other end with 12 minutes remaining.
But when it all looked lost for Hull David Meyler crossed the ball to Niasse who hammered home from close range to set up a tense end.
FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS
- With a half strength team and half full stadium it seemed that Hull had given up on this semi-final tie.
- United boss Jose Mourinho was not taking any chances with his team selection picking a strong line-up.
- Wayne Rooney would have hoped to make it after coming on to grab the equaliser at Stoke last weekend and with it become the club’s leading all-time goalscorer.
- But he was on the bench and this was another indication to Rooney that when it comes to big occasions like this he simply is not in Mourinho’s first eleven.
- Hull’s Ryan Mason was in everyone’s thoughts last night having been raced to hospital with a fractured skull following a clash of heads with Gary Cahill on Sunday.
- The Hull players warmed up with T shirts on bearing his name and there was applause on 25 minutes, his squad number.
- The Special One will have been tearing his hair out if he had any left after his drastic cut given the way his team played in the first half.
- More fans would probably have turned up if they knew it was going to be exciting for over an hour with Tom Huddlestone putting away a 34th minute penalty to put The Tigers ahead.
- To be fair to referee Jon Moss he did well to spot the Marcus Rojo pulling Harry Maguire’s shirt.
- United were not happy however and the manager and players made their feelings known to Moss at half time.
- They had every reason to complain when they were not given a spot kick themselves in the 53rd minute when Huddlestone pushed Chris Smalling.
- Hull deserved their half-time lead having had eight shots to United’s two and four on target to United’s one.
- The one from Zlatan Ibrahimovic was denied being a goal by an excellent full length save from Hull goalkeeper David Marshall
- Paul Pogba had been quiet all night until the 66th minute when he grabbed the goal after a Marcus Rashford run.
- Niasse scored from close range from close range with five minutes to go but United held on to seal their place at Wembley.
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Former referee Mark Halsey's view
I WOULD never have given a penalty for Marcos Rojo’s shirt pull on Harry Maguire.
Ref Jon Moss awarded a spot-kick for the incident on 34 minutes.
But it was a very soft decision in my opinion.
None of the Hull players even appealed for it at the time of the incident.
It was a very soft penalty. Yes, he did have hold of his shirt but this goes on countless times during a game.
But it was at the low scale in terms of grappling and holding.
We want the obvious cases stamped out.
But that is the sort of offence which should have been waved away.
And after giving that penalty, he has to show consistency — which means that Hull midfield player Tom Huddlestone’s push in the chest of United’s England defender Chris Smalling on 52 minutes was a spot-kick.
If Moss gives the first one, then he has to give that one as well.
And, given there are no defenders in front of Smalling, it is a red card too, because Huddlestone is also denying a goal-scoring opportunity.
Moss came under fire at the weekend for his performance in the Arsenal v Burnley game for two key errors.
And you have to wonder if the referee’s confidence is low at present.
He has gone looking for trouble.
You don’t do that as a referee — because trouble always will find you.
Dream team
HULL: Marshall 6, Meyler 7, Dawson 7, Maguire 7, Tymon 6, Huddlestone 7, Clucas 7, Bowen 6, Maloney 6, Diomande 6, Niasse 8.
SUBS: Evandro 7, Markovic 6, Hernandez 6.
MAN UNITED: De Gea 6, Darmian 6, Smalling 7, Jones 7, Rojo 7, Carrick 6, Herrera 7, Pogba 7, Lingard 7, Rashford 6, Ibrahimovic 7.
SUBS: Rooney 6, Fellaini 6.
Social says
What they said
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho: "I just want to say congratulations to my players. It was a difficult road to be in the final and we are in the final.
"I don't want to say anything else. It is enough, I am calm, I behaved on the bench so no more words."
United midfielder Michael Carrick said: "We're just disappointed with the way we played.
"It's a strange feeling, we wanted to keep our run and form going.
"But it's a massive opportunity to get to a final, but we didn't play well at all. Of course we're delighted to get there and we'll shake this off."
Hull defender Alex Bruce said: "A lot of positives.
"Our bread and butter is the league and if we keep performing like that we'll be okay."