Hull 2 Manchester United 1 (2-3 AGG): Paul Pogba strikes to end late rally by Tigers and seal Red Devils place in the EFL Cup final

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.

Paul Pogba slotted home to ensure Manchester United's place in the EFL Cup final
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.

Hull players wore shirts with Ryan Mason's name on the back as a show of support to the recovering defender

A message of support for Ryan Mason was put on the big screens during the first-half

Manchester United were furious after referee John Moss gave a soft penalty against Marcus Rojo
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.

Hull were lucky to be awarded the penalty Marcus Rojo did not seem to foul Harry McGuire

Tom Huddlestone tucked away from the spot after Marcus Rojo was deemed to have fouled Harry McGuire

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho was clearly frustrated by his side's lacklustre first-half display
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.

Paul Pogba eased Manchester United fans' nerves after going 1-0 down against Hull

Tom Huddlestone looked to have brought down Marcus Rojo in the box but no penalty was given

• 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 34^th 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 53^rd 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 66^th 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.

 

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.

Manchester United will not take on Southampton in the EFL Cup final at Wembley next month

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."