Man United 0-1 Wolves (Sarabia 77)
Pablo Sarabia’s stunning free-kick ensured Wolves made history at Old Trafford, as the Old Gold won a fifth top flight match in succession for the first time since 1970.
The Spaniard came off the bench to whip an inch-perfect free-kick into the top corner 13 minutes from time, which saw Wolves claim the league double over Manchester United for the first time since 1980.
Like at Ipswich Town earlier this month, Sarabia showed his quality off the bench, following a match of few chances, but it mattered not as Vitor Pereira's side maintained their momentum to move up to 15th in the Premier League table.
The opening 45 proved fairly uneventful, in truth. Those inside witnessed one shot on target between the sides, but Dan Bentley, drafted in to replaced Jose Sa, who’d been injured in the warm up, enjoyed a quiet return to action.
Wolves’ only shot in the first half came via the right boot of skipper Nelson Semedo. He picked up the loose ball after good work by Andre, but sliced his effort high, wide and into the Stretford End.
The closest United came to an opener was when Emmanuel Agbadou was penalised for a foul on Noussair Mazraoui. Christian Eriksen sized up the free-kick and directed his effort on target, but it proved a simple push over the bar for Bentley.
With one minute remaining of a slow-paced first half Alejandro Garnacho worked the ball left to Kobbie Mainoo, and he curled an effort towards Bentley’s far post from the edge of the box but failed to produce the required curl as it flew just wide.
Half-time | Man United 0-0 Wolves
The start to the second period continued on from the first, with neither side taking full control of the contest. United’s introduction of Bruno Fernandes increased their threat, and he twice could have opened the scoring, with the latter opening from a Garnacho pull back flying off target.
Instead, it was Wolves who took the impetus. Matheus Cunha’s clever turn left Eriksen desperately pulling him back. Up stepped Sarabia from the free-kick – ideal for a left footer – and he produced the goods, whipping a brilliant free-kick over the wall and into Andre Onana’s top corner.
Wolves’ tails were up. “First the points, then the pints” rang out of the away end. And while they couldn’t add to that lead, they grateful to see Fernandes fire off target again, following good work by Garnacho.
Mason Mount also came close to an equaliser, turning an Eriksen cross wide at the back post, while Rodrigo Gomes will have been disappointed not to give Sarabia an easy chance for a second, following a brilliant ball by Cunha, but it was Wolves celebrating once more come full-time.
Full-time | Man United 0-1 Wolves
Man United | Onana, Amass, Mazraoui, Lindelof (Yoro 79), Fredricson, Dorgu (Dalot 59), Ugarte (Fernandes 59), Eriksen, Mainoo (Mount 59), Garnacho, Hojlund (Obi 70).
Unused subs | Heaton, Maguire, Casemiro, Evans.
Wolves | Bentley, Semedo (R Gomes 74), Bueno, Agbadou, Toti, Ait-Nouri (Doherty 82), Andre, J Gomes, Munetsi, Cunha (Djiga 90), Strand Larsen (Sarabia 74).
Unused subs | King, Traore, Doyle, Forbs, Mane.
