Wolves vs Manchester United result: Raul Jimenez and Diogo Jota shine as Nuno's side reach FA Cup semi-finals
Wolves 2-1 Manchester United: Marcus Rashford's late goal could not prevent Ole Gunnar Solskjaer suffering his second straight defeat
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Your support makes all the difference.Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Manchester United may yet enjoy a long and happy marriage together but the honeymoon is most certainly over after they were knocked out of the FA Cup at the quarter-final stage by an excellent Wolverhampton Wanderers.
This was a second consecutive defeat for Solskjaer but, more worryingly, a performance well below the standard of that at the Emirates last weekend. An oddly listless United offered next to nothing in attack before being overcome in the second half by their tireless opponents.
Wolves deserved this victory, threatening throughout and scoring twice through the impressive Raul Jimenez and Diogo Jota to reach the semi-finals of this competition for the first time in more than 20 years.
Had it not been for several crucial saves by Sergio Romero, United’s reserve goalkeeper, their margin of victory would have been wider. United were also reprieved from going down to 10 men, with Victor Lindelof’s late sending off overturned by VAR.
Marcus Rashford’s stoppage-time consolation reduced the arrears but even that was not enough to excuse a performance which was well below the standards set by Solskjaer thus far.
This defeat should not greatly affect the Norwegian’s chances of becoming Jose Mourinho’s permanent successor, but it did eliminate United’s most realistic hope of trophy this season and remind the caretaker manager of the scale of the task at hand.
Given Wolves’ ability to trouble the so-called ‘top six’ and United’s adventurous style under Solskjaer so far, many expected a pulsating Cup tie. Instead, they got a surprisingly sedate first half.
United dominated the opening stages but had no answer to Wolves’ deep and well-organised defensive line. The visitors’ only attempt on target in the opening half hour was a Rashford effort from 30 yards out which John Ruddy gathered with ease.
Wolves were comfortable in their own half and gradually began to find their feet in the final third too. A Ruben Neves shot from range was held by Sergio Romero after one well-worked corner and a minute later, Jota volleyed straight at the United goalkeeper.
Their best chance by far, however, came when that same pair combined shortly before the interval. A sublime first-time Neves pass took advantage of United’s muddled defence sent Jota in behind but Romero was off his line quickly to narrow the angle and save.
Aside from one attempt by Diogo Dalot to relive in Paris heroics – shooting from the edge of the box and claiming a handball against Jonny – United rarely troubled their opponents and went into the break decidedly second-best.
Wolves, meanwhile, picked up where they had left off when the two sides re-emerged. If not for United’s reserve goalkeeper becoming possessed by the spirit of first-choice David de Gea, they would have found one.
Jimenez’s header shortly after half time was from close-range and goal-bound but Romero reacted spectacularly in double quick time to palm it away. Minutes later, he clawed another out of his top left-hand corner, denying Joao Moutinho.
Romero was proving to be United’s unlikely man-of-the-match while others faltered. Rashford cut a frustrated figure up front and, like Nemanja Matic before him, picked up a yellow card that would keep him out of a prospective semi-final.
It would not matter as Wolves would soon find the goals that secured their place at Wembley and ended United’s run in this competition. The first was Jimenez’s, but it was created by Moutinho, who danced past Dalot and Ander Herrera into United’s penalty area and found the Mexican.
Jimenez’s initial shot was blocked by Lindelof. He turned his back to goal, carried the ball away and was almost dispossessed by Paul Pogba, but the midfielder could not control the loose ball. It broke back to Jimenez who finally turned and shot, low and true past Romero.
The second came quickly. Most of United’s defence were still in the opposition penalty area when Jota picked the ball up on halfway line. He had only Luke Shaw to beat and beat the left-back easily, turning inside and leaving him in a crumpled heap on the turf.
Jota still had much to do as he advanced forward and fired early from the edge of the box. Romero, having done so well to keep Wolves out for much of the evening, allowed himself to be beaten at the near post.
The tie seemed settled but there was still time for a late piece of drama and a consolation. Lindelof was initially shown a red card for a forceful challenge on Jota, only for referee Martin Atkinson to overturn his decision with help from VAR.
And in the final minute of added-on time, Rashford spared some blushes, converting a Shaw cross inside the area on the turn. But the late goal did little to mask the fact that Wolves had brutally exposed inadequacies in this United side. The Solskjaer bubble has finally burst.
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