Hull surprises Manchester United with a 2-0 victory in their Premier League comeback
Hull City celebrated their return to the Premier League after a nine-year hiatus with a well-earned 2-0 win against Manchester United on Saturday, dampening the optimism surrounding Michael Carrick’s team following last season’s resurgence.
It’s just one game,” Carrick stated to TNT Sports. It’s the first game of the season, and it’s certainly disappointing, which is understandable. However, it doesn’t suddenly alter the overall trajectory of the team or the football club. We’ll remain composed and focused on the upcoming week.
The promoted side put United under pressure from the start and took the lead in the 17th minute when Semi Ajayi converted a rebound after Oli McBurnie’s corner was parried by goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
Hull’s superiority at set-pieces yielded results once more seven minutes before halftime. Regan Slater curled a free kick into the area, and Nobel Mendy rose high to power a header beyond Lammens, sending the MKM Stadium wild with their first league victory over United in 52 years. “It was wonderful,” Ajayi told TNT. It capped a wonderful start to our journey. I was thrilled to score the goal that set us on our path. We remain undistracted by external distractions, confident in our ability to succeed.
United, who had always triumphed over newly promoted teams in season openers, found it difficult to mount a response. Marcus Rashford, in his first appearance for the club since December 2024, displayed moments of potential as a second-half substitute; however, Carrick’s team struggled to generate clear opportunities.
In the Premier League, we understand that these kinds of away grounds present a tough challenge,” stated United captain Bruno Fernandes. You must align with their intensity and aggression. The two set-pieces ultimately determined the outcome of the game today.
United arrived with lofty expectations. Carrick had instilled a much-needed confidence in a squad that was lacking last season after taking over from Ruben Amorim in January, guiding them to a third-place finish.
Bryan Mbeumo had United’s best opportunity in the 78th minute, but his shot from a central position was saved by Konstantinos Tzolakis, who otherwise had a tranquil afternoon as Hull’s defense effectively kept the visitors at bay.
We recognize the frustration of the fans,” Fernandes stated. At the beginning of each season, our goal is to compete fiercely and secure victory in every match, but we truly need the support of our fans.
