Wolves 2-0 Manchester United: Cunha stars as Wolves defeat sorry 10-man Red Devils
Vítor Pereira achieved his second consecutive victory as the manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers, guiding the Old Gold to a 2-0 triumph over 10-man Manchester United at Molineux, thereby ending a four-match losing streak in head-to-head encounters.
This result leaves the Red Devils in 14th place, closer to the relegation zone than to the top four in terms of points.
In the last 15 meetings between these teams, only one was decided by a margin greater than one goal, and the first half of this match was equally competitive.
The Portuguese managers, who had previously experienced 3-0 defeats before Christmas, employed similar tactical setups that largely neutralized each other before halftime.
Consequently, long-range attempts became the focus, although both Diogo Dalot and Gonçalo Guedes were unable to significantly challenge the opposing goalkeeper. Jørgen Strand Larsen and Lisandro Martínez posed threats with well-placed headers, but it was Matheus Cunha’s impressive footwork that shone in a half characterized by a lack of quality in offensive play.
Wolves' defensive strength was particularly noteworthy, especially considering that only Southampton has conceded more goals at home in the Premier League this season. Meanwhile, Manchester United's inability to score in six matches this season highlighted their ongoing struggles.
Ruben Amorim's side needed to improve, but his task became considerably more challenging just two minutes into the second half when Bruno Fernandes received a second yellow card for a late challenge on Nélson Semedo.
Wolves, benefiting from a numerical advantage, found the back of the net shortly thereafter; however, Larsen's header was disallowed due to an offside infraction. Nonetheless, celebrations resumed at the hour mark when Wolves took the lead under unusual circumstances.
Cunha's powerful inswinging corner eluded all players, including United goalkeeper André Onana, as it found its way into the goal. This marked the second time in three matches that Amorim's side conceded directly from a corner.
Substitutes Casemiro, Antony, and Alejandro Garnacho each had opportunities to score as the undermanned visitors sought what seemed an improbable equalizer.
However, their persistent inability to pose a significant threat ultimately hindered their efforts to stage a comeback, culminating in a late goal on the counterattack by Hwang Hee-chan, which sealed their fate with a third consecutive defeat across all competitions.
On the other hand, Wolves achieved back-to-back league clean sheets for the first time since January, successfully escaping the relegation zone with their second home victory in the Premier League this season. This accomplishment also marked Pereira as the first manager since the 1970s to win his first two matches in charge at the top level.
SportsLigue