Wolverhampton: Wolves inflicted a second straight defeat on Manchester United here, Saturday, outplaying Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side to secure a 2-1 win and reach the FA Cup semifinals.
United lacked spark throughout and were overcome by an eager Wolves side with two goals in the space of six minutes in the second half from Raul Jimenez and Diogo Jota.
Marcus Rashford’s injury-time effort was a mere consolation. Solskjaer had presided over a run of just two defeats in 18 games since replacing Jose Mourinho in December, progressing to the quarter-finals of the Champions League and the last eight of the FA Cup.
But now they have suffered two losses in a row after their Champions League exertions at Paris Saint-Germain.
United were favourites but the Midlanders’ form against the top six that has carried them to seventh position in the Premier League gave home fans hope.
Wolves scored the goal they had been threatening in the 70th minute. The chance seemed to be lost when Jimenez was forced backwards with his back to goal after being crowded out following a superb run by Moutinho, who breezed through three challenges cutting in from the left.
But the Mexican swivelled 180 degrees, after getting a lucky bounce off Pogba and drilled a low shot past Romero. Six minutes later Wolves doubled their lead.
Neves sent Jota racing clear on the counter as Wolves broke and the Portuguese left Luke Shaw in a heap before firing an unstoppable left-foot drive inside Romero’s near post.
High drama followed when Atkinson showed Victor Lindelof a red card for lunging in on Jota in front of the Wolves dugout. VAR was called and deemed it a booking, allowing the Swedish defender a reprieve.
Rashford pulled one back with a shot on the turn in the fifth minute of the five added on, but it was too little, too late.
AFP