Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
Hull City opened pre-season with a 3-0 win over Konyaspor in Slovenia. Enis Destan, an own goal and Abu Kamara scored for the Tigers.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHull City's first pre-season outing of the 2026/27 campaign produced a commanding 3-0 victory over Turkish Super Lig side Konyaspor at the Aluminij Sports Park in Kidričevo, Slovenia, on Saturday 25 July.
Enis Destan's 28th-minute header, an own goal eight minutes after the interval, and a composed Abu Kamara finish on 73 minutes gave the Premier League new-boys a comfortable win in their first run-out since the Championship play-off final triumph over Middlesbrough in May.
How It Unfolded
A scrappy opening, delayed by 15 minutes after Konyaspor's late arrival at the ground, was followed by the first setback of the afternoon for Hull City. Abdus Omur was forced off after 23 minutes following a heavy challenge, replaced by Nathan Tinsdale.
Tinsdale made an immediate impact. His floated cross from the right found Destan at the back post, and the Turkish striker powered a header past motionless Konyaspor goalkeeper Bahadır Gungordu in the 28th minute — Hull City's first goal of pre-season.
Destan was withdrawn soon after in a planned change, with Mason Burstow taking his place. Jack Butland, making his Hull City debut after his summer arrival, was forced into one sharp save with his legs in the 40th minute, and the Tigers carried a 1-0 lead into the break.
The Turning Point
Ryan Giles' introduction at half-time — replacing Matty Jacob, who had picked up a first-half knock — shifted the game decisively in Hull's favour. Within eight minutes of the restart, Giles delivered the kind of low, driven cross that befuddled the Konyaspor defence, and the ball ricocheted off a defender and into the net for an own goal.
That second goal, credited as an own goal at 53 minutes, killed any notion of a Konyaspor fightback. Hull City's fringe players introduced on the hour mark — among them Alfie Coyle, Brendon Egan, Matt Crooks, Kieran Dowell and Liam Millar — maintained the tempo.
Key Performers
Enis Destan — Scored the opener with a well-timed header in his 28-minute cameo before a planned substitution. A sharp start to his pre-season campaign.
Abu Kamara — The winger was a persistent threat on the right flank and capped his display with a clinical finish in the 73rd minute, sliding home after Liam Millar burst forward and squared across goal.
Liam Millar — Introduced on the hour, the Canadian winger created the third goal with a driving run and precise cut-back for Kamara. His direct running unsettled Konyaspor's defence.
Jack Butland — The new signing from Rangers had little to do beyond one sharp save in the first half, but his distribution and command of the area offered a composed presence in his first 45 minutes in a Hull City shirt.
By the Numbers — Interpreted
The underlying statistics reflect a game Hull City controlled without needing to dominate possession. The three goals came from three different sources: a set-piece-type cross, a wing-driven own goal, and a counter-attack. Hull City used two entirely different XIs — one for the first 60 minutes, another for the final 30 — making traditional shot and possession metrics less meaningful than the smoothness of the transition between the two units. Konyaspor, who had already played two friendlies before this match, created only one clear chance — the Butland save in the 40th minute — suggesting Hull's defensive structure was solid throughout.
What It Means
For Hull City, now a Premier League side following their promotion from the Championship, this was a tick in the box for fitness and match sharpness. Head coach Sergej Jakirovic used the match to give minutes to two distinct groups, with a further 30-minute shift planned for the second group on Tuesday. The Tigers face Çaykur Rizespor at Maribor's Ljudski Vrt on 28 July (17:00 BST), followed by a fixture against Kasimpasa in Istanbul. The clean sheet, against a side deep into their own pre-season, will be particularly encouraging.
Verdict
A controlled, professional start to pre-season from a Hull City side that looks to have retained its Championship-winning mentality. The goals were well-worked, the defensive shape was compact, and the use of two separate XIs gave Jakirovic exactly what he needed: competitive minutes for almost his entire squad. Konyaspor offered little beyond the first half-hour, and Hull rarely looked troubled.
Match Events
Own Goal
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 26 Jul 2026
