Fellaini helps United to 2-0 win over Hull in Cup semi

Manchester United turned frustration into jubilation as they planted one foot in the League Cup final after a late Marouane Fellaini header gave them a 2-0 win over Hull City in the first leg of their last four clash on Tuesday.

Juan Mata had given United the lead early in the second half, but their failure to kill off the tie when comfortably on top had left the home fans fearing a testing return encounter as the seconds ticked away at Old Trafford.

The hosts had spurned several chances to put the tie to bed, with Paul Pogba rattling the post, before substitute Fellaini gave Jose Mourinho's side some breathing space when he rose at the far post to head home with three minutes remaining.

The victory kept the Portuguese coach on course for a first trophy at the club and continued United's superb recent form with a ninth successive victory in all competitions, but the demanding Mourinho was far from satisfied with what he saw.


"I was a bit disappointed yes," he told Sky Sports.

"I think we were a bit sloppy, overcomplicating things, always delaying the decision, giving them time to regroup... In the second half we all improved a little bit, just a little bit."

INJURY CRISIS

In only his second game as Hull boss, fellow Portuguese Marco Silva had to deal with an injury crisis that left him with only 14 fit senior players and there was a makeshift look about them as United took control early on.

Mata drew an excellent save from Hull keeper Eldin Jakupovic after two minutes, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan sidefooted wide after being set up perfectly by the Spaniard.

The visitors, whose injury woes got worse when Markus Henriksen went off after 19 minutes with a shoulder problem, did have arguably the best chance of the first half, however, when Adama Diomande headed against the base of the post.

Wayne Rooney, seeking to become United's outright record scorer, crashed a shot just wide five minutes after the break and was later substituted, but the deadlock was soon broken.

Antonio Valencia's deep cross to the far post was headed back across goal by Mkhitaryan and Mata ghosted in to volley home from close range.

United almost doubled their lead as Paul Pogba rattled the post with a free kick, but the frustration levels were rising until Belgian Fellaini came off the bench to make his mark and provide a cushion for the second leg on Jan. 26.

Southampton and Liverpool contest the other semi-final, with the first leg at St Mary's on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Toby Davis; Editing by Ken Ferris)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

PREMIER LEAGUE: Chelsea take pole position, Arsenal end winless run

LONDON, United Kingdom -- Chelsea swept to the top of the Premier League with a 3-0 victory over Burnley, while Arsenal won 3-1 at Watford to ease the pressure on Arsene Wenger on Saturday.

After a dismal title defense last season, Chelsea look revitalized under new manager Antonio Conte and the Italian was able to celebrate his third successive win after the most emphatic display of his brief reign.

Second-placed Manchester United are behind Chelsea only on goals scored after Marcus Rashford struck deep into second-half stoppage time to snatch a 1-0 win at Hull City.

So disappointing last term, Eden Hazard has made a vibrant start to the new campaign and the Belgium midfielder put Chelsea ahead with a superb run and clinical finish from the edge of the penalty area in the ninth minute at Stamford Bridge.

Willian was back for Chelsea after recovering from a calf injury and the Brazil winger doubled their lead in the 41st minute before Nigeria's Victor Moses came off the bench to net the hosts' third in the 89th minute.

"It was a good performance. We have started very well this season but we must know we can improve," Conte said.

"Eden Hazard must be this decisive in every game and I'm pleased because I saw it today."

At Vicarage Road, Arsenal's first victory of the season, after losing to Liverpool and drawing with Leicester City, should silence Wenger's critics at least temporarily.

Failing to win their first two matches while struggling to make an impact in the transfer market had prompted some Arsenal fans to turn on Wenger again after many protested against him last season.

But there were no complaints as Arsenal took the lead in the ninth minute when Santi Cazorla stroked home a penalty after Nordin Amrabat elbowed Alexis Sanchez.

Chile forward Sanchez increased Arsenal's advantage five minutes before half-time with a deft touch over Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.

Mesut Ozil was making his first start of the season after being rested following Euro 2016 and Arsenal's German playmaker made up for lost time with a headed goal in first-half stoppage time.

Watford's Roberto Pereyra reduced the deficit in the 57th minute, but the Hornets remain winless.

"I believe we shot ourselves in the foot in the first game and were under huge pressure. Today we had a good solid performance," Wenger said.


 - Efficient -

At the KCOM Stadium, United secured their third successive win under Mourinho as teenage striker Rashford finally turned their pressure into a tangible reward.

Frustrated by a resolute Hull defence, United won it in the second minute of stoppage time when substitute Rashford bagged his first goal of the season with a tap in from Wayne Rooney's low cross.

"We deserved it and in a more comfortable way. It is a great feeling when you win the points in the last minute," Mourinho said.

"The boys were very strong and the second half was like going to fight against a wall. We had an amazing mentality. We tried and tried and got it."

Leicester finally secured the first win of their title defence with a 2-1 success against Swansea City at the King Power Stadium.

Claudio Ranieri's side took the lead in the 32nd minute when Jamie Vardy finished off a typically efficient counter-attack from the champions and captain Wes Morgan lashed in the second in the 52nd minute.

Riyad Mahrez wasted a chance to make it three when the winger's penalty was saved by Lukasz Fabianski and there was more frustration for Leicester when goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel came off injured.

But Leroy Fer's 80th-minute goal for Swansea came too late to rescue a point for the visitors.

Danny Rose's 72nd-minute equaliser earned Tottenham Hotspur a 1-1 draw with Liverpool at White Hart Lane.

James Milner gave Liverpool a deserved lead with a penalty in the 43rd minute after Roberto Firmino went down under the slightest contact by Erik Lamela.

Everton won 1-0 against Stoke City at Goodison Park after Leighton Baines' penalty was pushed onto a post by Shay Given, only for the ball to rebound off the goalkeeper's head into the net for an own goal.

Southampton rescued a dramatic 1-1 draw against Sunderland as Jay Rodriguez's 85th-minute strike crept past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to cancel out Jermain Defoe's 80th-minute penalty at St Mary's.

Scott Dann's late leveller gave Crystal Palace a 1-1 draw against fellow strugglers Bournemouth at Selhurst Park.

Josh King had fired Bournemouth in an 11th-minute lead before Palace midfielder Yohan Cabaye missed a penalty.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Rooney hails Man U momentum

LONDON -- Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney believes new manager Jose Mourinho's methods are already bearing fruit ahead of his side's Premier League trip to Hull City on Saturday.

United have won their two opening games, against Bournemouth and Southampton, and go into the weekend level on points with Manchester City, Chelsea and, unexpectedly, Hull at the head of the table.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored four goals in three games and with world-record returnee Paul Pogba impressing in the 2-0 win over Southampton, Rooney feels United have hit the ground running.

"We, as players, have to adapt to what the manager wants us to do in our preparations throughout the week and, on match-days, we try to take the game plan of the manager onto the pitch," he told MUTV.

"It's what we've tried to do and, fortunately, we've started the season well. We've prepared well this week so we're hoping that continues.

"The signings we've made this season have been really good signings. They've settled in really quickly and you've seen the impact they've had on the pitch already."

While City, United and Chelsea's presence in the top four gives the lead places in the Premier League standings a familiar look, Hull's strong start to the season has surprised everyone.

After Steve Bruce quit as manager and Hull were left with only 13 senior players, the East Yorkshire club were installed as the bookmakers' favorites to go down.

But they defied the odds to stun champions Leicester City 2-1 on the season's opening day and followed that up with a 2-0 success at Swansea City.

One of Bruce's principle reasons for leaving was frustration over the club's lack of transfer activity and caretaker coach Mike Phelan says there will be no new faces on show at the KCOM Stadium on Saturday.

"It's the same old, same old," said Phelan, who spent 20 years at United as a player, coach and assistant manager under Alex Ferguson.

"Nobody has yet come into the building. We haven't signed any new players. We are in talks with two or three new players.

"We've set our stall out and are pursuing interests, but at the moment nothing has been delivered."

KLOPP'S SPURS RETURN

The identity of the man between the posts for Manchester City will be a hot topic once again on Sunday when Pep Guardiola's side welcome West Ham United to the Etihad Stadium.

Claudio Bravo has completed his move from Barcelona for a reported initial fee of 13.75 million pounds ($18.2 million, 16.1 million euros).

But with the Chile international having only just arrived, Guardiola is expected to restore Willy Caballero to his starting XI, which means Joe Hart will drop to the bench.

Hart was hailed by City's fans during Wednesday's 1-0 Champions League win over Steaua Bucharest, but with youngster Angus Gunn also pushing for a place, Guardiola cannot even guarantee him a spot on the bench.

"If all four stay here, the best solution is for everybody to be involved in our idea," Guardiola said.

"They are going to be in rotation, part of that. So (if) Joe, Willy and Angus stay, then it won't be the same one who is always on the bench."

Chelsea will look to pursue their renaissance under former Juventus and Italy manager Antonio Conte when they entertain Burnley at Stamford Bridge.

Burnley stunned Liverpool 2-0 at Turf Moor last weekend, despite seeing less than 20 percent of the ball, only to then crash to a woeful League Cup exit at fourth-tier Accrington Stanley.

At White Hart Lane, Tottenham Hotspur host Liverpool in a clash between two clubs hoping to gatecrash the Manchester duopoly at the top of the table.

"Both teams have consistency in the squad. There are of course new players, but not too many changes," said Jurgen Klopp, whose tenure as Liverpool manager began with a 0-0 draw at Spurs last October.

"It will be exciting what will happen there."

Arsenal, meanwhile, visit Watford.

Arsene Wenger's men remain without a win after two games, but fans have been placated by moves for Germany defender Shkodran Mustafi and Spanish striker Lucas Perez.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com