Red Devils enter League Cup final

Kingston Upon Hull (United Kingdom), Jan. 27: Manchester United survived a scare to reach the League Cup final after Oumar Niasse’s late goal earned Hull City a 2-1 victory in the semi-final second leg.

Leading 2-0 from the first leg, United saw their advantage halved by Tom Huddlestone’s 35th-minute penalty and then restored by Paul Pogba’s second-half strike.

Niasse’s goal set up a nervy finish for Jose Mourinho’s men, but they survived to complete a 3-2 aggregate win that sets up a date with Southampton in the final at Wembley on February 26.

“I just want to say congratulations to my players,” said Mourinho, who seemed to be aggrieved about Hull’s penalty. “It was a difficult road to be in the final and we are in the final.”

Hull once again showed signs of resolve under new coach Marco Silva and could console themselves with a first win over United since a 2-0 success in November 1974.

In the first half, the cohesive football all came from Hull and it were United who looked a team of strangers, with Phil Jones and Chris Smalling unconvincing.

The hosts duly took the lead in 10 minutes before half-time, Huddles-tone planting his spot-kick after Marcos Rojo was penalised for tugging Harry Maguire’s shirt.

It took United until the 38th minute to register a shot on target.

Man U had three penalty appeals in the second half and while the first and third centred on Pogba and Marcus Rashford going to ground too easily, the second was more compelling.

After seizing on a loose ball inside the Hull box, Smalling appeared to be pushed in the chest by Huddlestone, sending him down, but referee Jon Moss shook his head.