Manchester United are in the final of the EFL Cup, but they did it the hard way at the KCOM Stadium.
José Mourinho’s team had won their first leg against Hull City by two goals to nil, but lost the return leg 2-1 to sneak through to a Wembley meeting with Southampton.
While Hull’s opener was controversial, their second was simply unexpected – at least to fans of the two Merseyside clubs.
It was scored by Oumar Niasse, a striker with 0 goals for Everton since a big-money move last January.
📷 | Oumar Niasse slots home from David Meyler's cross to make it 2-1 on the night #HULMUN pic.twitter.com/jvinC2Tdny
— Hull City (@HullCity) January 26, 2017
Not only that, but it came after good work from Lazar Marković, a man who Liverpool signed for £20m but who has not played for the Anfield club since a 2-1 victory over QPR in May 2015.
Niasse scores! Game on with just a few minutes to go… SS1 now. https://t.co/PC78F4OMlq
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 26, 2017
Of course, those familiar with both Merseyside clubs always knew they had this in them, right?
Lazar Markovic and Oumar Niasse – who doubted them?
— Tony Barrett (@TonyBarrett) January 26, 2017
Right?
Wait, did Phil Neville just say that Niasse was the best player on the pitch? (Runs off to get eyes tested and ears syringed). 😮
— Dull Everton (@DullEverton) January 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/wainey83/status/824734333890129921
Okay, maybe they didn’t expect this from Niasse, what with his background of struggling at much lower levels, but surely people thought Marković was capable of turning things around…
https://twitter.com/KlutchKarius/status/824732173605470213
Markovic been the best player on the pitch since he came on here. How ironic
— Tom Roderts (@tmrobert) January 26, 2017
why is markovic playing well????
— FREGYඞǪ̸̨̢̨̢̛̛̛̠̙̤̮̺̖̱͍͈̘̗̜͇̻̭̱̲̼̰̥̼͔͇̤͎̩ (@Le_Gizmo) January 26, 2017
Plenty were still trying to regain their composure after not one, but two moments of shock in one goal. Imagine how they’d have reacted if Hull took the game to extra-time.
Not sure what is more surprising niasse scoring, or markovic being involved in the goal
— Jack O'Driscoll (@JackODriscoll_x) January 26, 2017
Markovic and Niasse hahahaha yaaass
— Anthony Evans (@anthonyevans97) January 26, 2017
Catch up with this week’s episode of 888sport Football Friday Live