Wolves’ Wembley bound
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 v Manchester United 1
Nigh on a week ago Chelsea Manager Maurizio Sarri, a man with a predilection for opening his mouth before engaging his brain, was less than complimentary about his opponents that day, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Whilst he didn’t actually say the words out loud you could tell from his tetchy demeanour that he considered the manner of their performance – Wolves had spent much of the game with ten men behind the ball – to be below contempt. Back in the studio that well known BBC pundit, with a passing resemblance to Yul Brynner, begged to differ. He had only praise for the combination of hard work and organisation that Coach Nuno had instilled in his charges and for all the Sarri churlishness, had it not been for a piece of individual brilliance by Eden Hazard, Chelsea would have lost the game. There are, are there not, a myriad ways in which to play the game.
Fast forward a week and it was another Champions League contender, Manchester United, to see how they would fair against the Wanderers web. Fielding his preferred forward line of Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard with Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera in support, Interim Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was keen for a return to winning ways following an unlikely defeat at West Ham.
But it didn’t happen as the home side’s defensive tactics allied to brilliant counter attacking play, claimed the day. Indeed but for a speculative first half effort from Rashford - which keeper John Ruddy dealt with easily - and the odd threaded ball that caused a modicum of panic in the Wolves defence, United were toothless the one goal margin of victory barely reflecting the home side’s dominance. No – you did read that last sentence correctly.
For this was a Wolves performance of the highest quality both tactically and technically. United dominated possession but they could never find a route through the Wolves defence and when they claimed the ball, Wolves counter attacked at pace. But it took them a full half hour to test Sergio Romero, a long range shot by Ruben Neves being well saved by the United keeper. Fifteen minutes later the reinvigorated Diogo Jota, found himself one on one with Romero. But his shot lacked sufficient power and the keeper made another good save.
O-O at half time I somewhat rashly suggested that the game would go to penalties. Wolves, on the other hand, had other ideas and within ten minutes of the restart Raul Jimenez (twice) and Joao Moutinho both went close. The wind was very much filling the home side’s sails and on seventy minutes Moutinho darted into the penalty box before feeding Jimenez. The Mexican’s first effort was blocked before he attempted a return ball to Moutinho. But the foot of Paul Pogba denied the pass only for the ball to run free. Pouncing on it Jimenez span and shot in one go, his effort rifling into the United net. A raucous Molineux erupted.
The home support was only just returning to earth when five minutes later Jota broke free of chaperone Luke Shaw. Advancing on goal the Portuguese striker more than made up for his first half miss with an emphatic strike into the net.
The goal forced Solskjaer to make changes Juan Mata and Matthew McTominay replacing the one paced Matic and an ineffective Lingard. But it was all too late, the pattern of the game having long been set. Well not quite as, in time added on, Rashford claimed a neat consolation goal.
But by then much of United’s support had long since set off for home. All of which left Molineux celebrating an appointment at Wembley and a first FA Cup semi final in 21 years.
Wolves: Ruddy 6, Saiss 8, Coady 8, Boly 8, Doherty 7, Jonny 7, Dendoncker 7, Neves 7, Moutinho 8, Jota 9 Sub Costa, Jimenez 9
Manchester United: Romero 7, Dalot 6, Lindelof 6, Smalling 7, Shaw 6, Pogba 6, Herrera 6 Sub Pereira, Matic 6 Sub Mata, Lingard 6 Sub McTominay, Rashford 7, Martial 6
Attendance: 31,004
Referee: Martin Atkinson 8
©Mark Brennand