Oli McBurnie struck three minutes into stoppage time to snatch a 3-2 victory for Hull City over Oxford United in a breathless Championship contest at the MKM Stadium. On his full league debut for the Tigers, the summer signing had already played a decisive role in both of Hull’s first-half goals before calmly rolling home the winner to secure Sergej Jakirovic’s first competitive home win and Hull’s first league success of the season.
In an end-to-end first half that exposed both back lines, Hull twice took the lead through Joe Gelhardt and Matt Crooks, only for Oxford to peg them back on each occasion with volleyed finishes from Will Lankshear and Cameron Brannagan. With both teams having failed to score on the opening weekend, four goals inside 26 minutes marked a stark turnaround, and for long spells after the break it appeared the points would be shared before McBurnie’s late intervention settled a chaotic game.
Flying Start as Both Attacks Exploit the Space
Hull tore into the game from the opening whistle, immediately imposing themselves in possession and slicing through Oxford’s shape. Their bright start was rewarded inside two minutes when McBurnie, dropping into space, spread the ball wide to Joe Gelhardt. The on-loan Leeds United forward drove into the box and beat goalkeeper Jamie Cumming at his near post to give the hosts an early advantage and open Hull’s Championship account for the season.