Hull, Aug 22 (IANS) Hull City on Saturday pulled off a miraculous win over Manchester United on their return to the Premier League after a decade. The Tigers, who are playing English top-flight football for the first time since 2016-17, beat the 13-time winners 2-0 with goals from Semi Ajayi and Nampalys Mendy at the MKM Stadium.
Ajayi opened the scoring sheet in the 17th minute with his strike from close range after a corner kick. The joy doubled when club-record signee Mendy scored on his debut in the 38th minute from another set piece. This time, Regan Slater set things up for the French-born Senegalese defender to smash the other into the back of the net, hitting the Red Devils with a double whammy.
The side was bolstered after Marcus Rashford was handed the No.9 shirt on his return from Barcelona, where he was on loan. However, the England international started on the bench and came on only after they were 0-2 down, as he failed to inspire a comeback.
Not many gave Hull a chance, who survived relegation from the Championship in 2024-25 only on goal difference, but then turned things around next year after a stellar run in the Championship in 2025-26. They won the Championship playoff final by beating Middlesbrough earlier this year.
Defender Ajayi reflected on the historic win. “Yeah, it was amazing. It kind of capped off a really good start that we had. We had a couple of chances before that, which we didn’t manage to put away, but that one put us in the lead of the game, gave us something to protect but also to build on, so I was buzzing to get the goal that put us on the way and get the three points,” he told TNT Sports.
The loss puts question marks over the Red Devils and their preparations for the Premier League. They last won the English title in 2012-13 under Sir Alex Ferguson, and their recent disaster leaves them plenty of work to do if they have to challenge for the title against the likes of current holders Arsenal and Manchester City.
United boss Carrick was confident the loss won’t end things for them. “We have a bit to improve on; it was never going to be perfect today, but I think, you know, going behind and giving ourselves a lot to do makes it more difficult, typical of one of those games of a newly promoted team at home…After that, we had moments, we had opportunities, we just didn’t have that spark to put them away or create any more, so bitterly disappointed with the result today, but it won’t knock us,” he told TNT Sports after the game.
–IANS
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