Manchester United overcame an incredibly committed performance from newly-promotedHull City to take all three points from the KCOM Stadium on Saturday evening, with Marcus Rashford scoring the winner in the dying seconds.
Rashford was on hand to tap home in injury time after great work by Wayne Rooney down the left side, but the result was harsh on the hosts, who defended valiantly throughout the entire game. It had looked as though the winner wasn't going to come, but the teenager was on hand in the right place at the right time to score a crucial winner.
Jose Mourinho selected an unchanged team from the one that beat Southampton last Friday, and it meant a second consecutive start for world record signing Paul Pogba. Both teams boasted perfect league records going into the evening clash - and Hull were looking for a second big scalp of the season after beating Leicester on the opening day.
Wayne Rooney in a nutshell #HULMUN pic.twitter.com/HtEoUP9YC1
The Tigers won at Swansea last week too, and looked in the early stages to be high on confidence. Mike Phelan's side were keen to pour forward in attack when the opportunities presented themselves, and they certainly gave the favourites something to think about.
It was an opening period of few clear chances though, with United in possession for the most part but unable to create real concern in an organised Hull unit.
HT #HCFC 0-0 #MUFC
Man United with 63% possession in first half, 3 shots on target. Hull with 2/5 on target. pic.twitter.com/4JQQb5nF2l
United cranked up the pressure ten minutes before the break, as Juan Mata sold a sweet step-over in the home box and sent in a low cross. The ball rebounded back to Wayne Rooney, who saw his shot blocked on the line and eventually cleared away. Ignored were his protests for handball.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was attempting to make the best for himself from relatively little service, but his closest sight of goal came from a late free-kick which found his feet. He attempted to turn home a back-heel after initially winning the ball in the box, but was flagged offside anyway.
Even this early in the season, it was soon apparent that this was one of those games where United would have to grind out a result - especially if they had eyes on winning the league. Hull remained organised throughout the rest of the game, and United really struggled to make inroads until the latter stages.
Despite calls on social media for Wayne Rooney to be replaced, Juan Mata and Anthony Martial were the ones to make way for Henrikh Mkhitaryan and - in his first United league appearance of the season - Marcus Rashford. Rooney may have been slowing the game down, but the newly-introduced pair were keen to make their mark.
Rashford has been more dangerous in 15 minutes than Rooney has in 85.
Pace was what they brought, and each of them made chances too. Rashford was the first of them to have a clear sight of goal, as his mazy run down the left channel saw him make his way into the box. His precise strike low into the far corner was saved quite brilliantly by home goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic, and he was soon called into action again as United pressed.
Hull skipper Curtis Davies was the home hero of the afternoon, as he led by example and jumped in front of countless United shots at goal as Mourinho's men tried their best to earn a winner.
The goal did eventually come though, as Rooney got the better of Ahmed Elmohamady out wide and delivered a low ball for histeammate to turn in. United have maintained their perfect record going into the first international break of the season.
🔶◾� | Here's the @HullCity team to face @ManUtd in tonight's @PremierLeague clash at the KCOM Stadium #HULMUN pic.twitter.com/SSLGrOUeTU
We're unchanged - here's the #MUFC team for #HULMUN... pic.twitter.com/22cjWc0Wx8
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