Manchester United kicked off their 2026/27 season with an away trip to Hull City.
First half
After four minutes, Youri Tielemans played a ball over the top for Bruno Fernandes, but he failed to keep the ball under his control.
The first ten minutes ticked by with United dominating possession but struggling to break down a resolute home defence. After 13 minutes, United had their first chance on goal when Hull inexplicably let the ball bounce in the box and it broke to Bryan Mbeumo, who fired a right-footed volley at Konstantinos Tzolakis, who was equal to it.
Matheus Cunha was next to test the home keeper when he controlled a pass by Noussair Mazraoui and swivelled onto his left foot, but it was an easy stop by the goalkeeper. Senne Lammens was next to make his mark on the game when Ole McBurnie beat Ayden Heaven to the ball and headed towards goal, but United’s Belgian made a smart save to keep the scores level.
Hull were getting on top, and they took the lead after 18 minutes when the away side were undone from a corner. Lammens made a stunning stop from McBurnie, but the ball broke to Semi Ajayi, who smashed the ball into the net.
The Premier League new boys found themselves in front, and United had a mountain to climb already in the new season. United responded after 29 minutes when Harry Maguire crossed the ball into the box and Patrick Dorgu snuck in behind the Hull defence, but he failed to make contact.
After 35 minutes, Mbeumo went for the spectacular, and his bicycle kick was well deflected behind for a corner.
It was the home side who were able to get the next goal, as United were outdone by a free kick. Nobel Mendy powered in a header unmarked, and the MKM Stadium exploded into life.
United tried in vain to grab a consolation before half time but were left frustrated time and time again. The half-time whistle blew with Michael Carrick’s side having a mountain to climb.
Second half
Marcus Rashford came off the bench to play his first game for United since December 2024.
After 51 minutes, Bruno Fernandes whipped in a cross but Ayden Heaven’s powerful header flew over the bar. The captain had a speculative shot from distance, but it was well gobbled up by the Hull keeper.
After 67 minutes, Mazraoui got on the end of a Shaw cross, but his effort was fired wildly wide of the post. Cody Drameh came close to adding Hull’s third with a dragged effort past the post.
Mbeumo was next for United to try his luck, but he leant back and fired his effort over the crossbar. United began to add a bit of pressure, and Cunha played in Mbeumo one-on-one, but his right-footed effort was well stopped by the Tigers’ keeper.
Eighty-four minutes in, Maguire stepped past the Hull defence and fired an effort on goal, but once again it did little to threaten the keeper.
Just before the 90th minute, Fernandes took a short corner with Shaw and whipped in an effort, but it was once again collected by the keeper.
Starting XI: Lammens, Mazraoui, Shaw, Heaven, Maguire, Tielemans, Santos, Fernandes, Dorgu, Cunha, Mbeumo
Subs: Rashford, Sesko, Mainoo, Dalot, Lacey
Featured image by Molly Darlington/Getty Images
