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Soccer-Hull in dreamland on Premier League return - Headlines news and analysis from Global Banking & Finance Review
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Soccer-Hull in dreamland on Premier League return

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on August 22, 2026

2 min read

· Last updated: August 22, 2026

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Hull City Celebrate Dream Premier League Return with 2-0 Win Over Manchester United

Hull City's Stunning Victory Over Manchester United

HULL, England, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Hull City captain Lewie Coyle was still pinching himself after the promoted side marked their return to the Premier League with a shock 2-0 victory over Manchester United on Saturday.

Key Moments and Goal Scorers

Goals from Semi Ajayi and record signing Nobel Mendy gave Sergej Jakirovic's side a famous win following a nine-year absence from the top flight.

Lewie Coyle's Reaction

"Probably before we all went to bed last night, we couldn't have dreamt any better," Coyle told TNT Sports.

"But to say I'm surprised, obviously, to win 2-0 at home against Manchester United, it'll be a shock to a lot of people.

"I'm not saying that's exactly how I thought it would go, but this team's got something special in terms of character, resilience, and we know what we're doing."

Historic Defeat for Manchester United

The result made unwanted history for United, who lost on the opening day of a league season to a newly-promoted side for the first time.

Match Analysis and Player Insights

Semi Ajayi's Opening Goal

The opening goal sparked confusion among Hull's players, with Semi Ajayi eventually credited for the strike despite teammate Ollie McBurnie's enthusiastic celebration.

Ajayi's Perspective

"I'm not going to lie. I thought he scored it as well," Ajayi said.

"I didn't really care if any one of us scored as long as we got the goal. I was lucky that there was no VAR check or nothing. So I was buzzing that it was ultimately my goal."

Defensive Performance and Team Spirit

Hull's defensive masterclass included a clean sheet and goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis made five saves.

"We know what we're doing when we're in that low block and we have to defend," Coyle explained.

Team Mentality and Ambitions

Ajayi insisted his team has drowned out the outside noise while a proud Coyle made Hull's ambitions clear.

"I said to them in the huddle before, we're not just here to make the numbers up," he said.

(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru, editing byh Ed Osmond)

Key Takeaways

  • Promoted Hull City made a sensational return to the Premier League with a 2‑0 opening‑day win over Manchester United, marking their first top‑flight campaign since 2017 (premierleague.com)
  • Hull's triumph was historic: it was the first time Manchester United had ever lost on opening day to a newly‑promoted side (reddit.com)
  • Hull kept a clean sheet through disciplined defending and five saves from goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis, underlining their strong tactical character (skysports.com)

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Who scored for Hull City in their Premier League return?
Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy scored the goals for Hull City.
How long was Hull City out of the Premier League before this match?
Hull City had been absent from the top flight for nine years.
Why was the win significant for Hull City?
It was a shock victory over Manchester United and marked Hull’s return after promotion.
What did Hull City captain Lewie Coyle say about the win?
Lewie Coyle said the win felt like a dream and credited the team's character and resilience.
How did the opening goal for Hull City occur?
There was some confusion, but Semi Ajayi was eventually credited with the opening goal.

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