Kobbie Mainoo scored a sensational 97th-minute winner for Manchester United after Wolves themselves had levelled in stoppage-time in a shocking 4-3 recreation at Molineux.
Marcus Rashford, restored to the staff, opened the scoring and Rasmus Hojlund doubled the lead earlier than the break with United dominant however the drama had hardly begun.
Pablo Sarabia pulled one again from the spot earlier than one other substitute, Scott McTominay restored the two-goal benefit. Max Kilman’s late aim provided Wolves hope and Pedro Neto thought he had secured a degree earlier than Mainoo’s magnificent winner.
It was a breathless contest to in the end delight the visiting Manchester United assist, though even the crestfallen house staff had been applauded from the pitch.
Wolves had not misplaced at house since being overwhelmed by Liverpool in September and will have moved above United with victory. As an alternative, they continue to be eleventh within the desk whereas Ten Hag’s staff are as much as seventh.
How Man Utd gained Molineux thriller
Ten Hag mentioned earlier than kick-off that this is perhaps Manchester United’s strongest facet and that issues would look totally different as soon as the injured gamers had returned they usually performed as if that had been true through the opening interval, scoring earlier than Wolves had actually had a kick.
Hojlund laid the ball off to Rashford and the returning favorite caressed the ball past Jose Sa and into the nook of the web. It oozed cool and made a mockery of the fuss that has surrounded him all week. United simply appeared to develop in confidence thereafter.
Wolves had been tactically undone for the second aim, Neto failing to trace the highly effective off-the-ball run of Luke Shaw and when Rashford slipped him in, the full-back’s low cross was bundled into the web by Hojlund after earlier ricocheting off Craig Dawson and Sa.
Hojlund nearly had one other when Matt Doherty’s under-hit cross to the goalkeeper resulted within the clearance cannoning off him however simply broad. The Dane was then denied when a slender offside determination went in opposition to him after tucking the ball away late within the first half.
Casemiro, booked early on however in any other case restoring management to United’s midfield, discovered the web with a header earlier than that half was by means of however was once more offside and the onus was on O’Neil to alter issues on the break. The tone of the sport actually shifted.
Kilman had a header cleared from close to the road by Lisandro Martinez, making his first Premier League begin since September. Though Hojlund then spurned an excellent probability after an error by Toti Gomes. However the penalty provided Wolves a route again into it.
The choice to award the spot-kick was comfortable, Casemiro barely connecting with Neto – if in any respect. However Sarabia, on instead, transformed and the group had been within the recreation. United struck once more. McTominay didn’t even have to leap to nod in United’s third from a nook.
Once more, Wolves fought again. They confirmed actual spirit within the second half, defending that lengthy unbeaten run at house. Dawson’s miscued shot was turned in by Kilman to arrange an enormous end. Neto delivered it when United inexplicably allowed a counter-attack.
His shot appeared to wrong-foot Onana and Molineux was wild, dreaming of an unlikely winner of their very own. However, amid a raucous environment, it was Mainoo who was calm whereas others weren’t, skipping away from two earlier than curling effortlessly into the nook.
It was a aim that shall be talked about for years, the most important second of his fledgling profession so far – and an enormous second for his supervisor and staff. Had United let this slip, it could have been damning. However this was an evening to recollect for the proper causes, as an alternative.
Man Utd’s dramatic win in stats
- Manchester United have gained three of their first 4 matches in 2024 in all competitions after ending 2023 with simply two wins in 9.
- Wolves suffered their first house Premier League defeat since shedding 3-1 to Liverpool in September, ending a run of eight successive unbeaten video games at Molineux.
- Rasmus Hojlund has now each scored and assisted in every of his final two Premier League appearances.
- Manchester United have conceded two or extra objectives in 5 consecutive league video games for the primary time since November 1977.
Ten Hag’s combined emotions after dramatic win
“To be honest, I have mixed feelings,” mentioned Ten Hag. “For the neutral, for the spectator, it is great to see. But as a manager, when you have dominated for an hour and should be three or four up, the way we concede the goals, we should manage it better, it cannot happen.”
However Mainoo saved the day. “He is making incredible progress,” Ten Hag had informed TNT Sports activities. “He has great abilities. He is the modern midfield player. He can attack and he can defend. He has the intelligence and the physicality, and he is also composed.”
O’Neil proud however disenchanted by particulars
“Incredibly proud of some of what we produced, the resilience, the togetherness, the quality, there were large spells when we looked close to being an excellent team,” mentioned the Wolves boss. “There were little bits that we need to improve, obviously.”
He added: “The two goals in the second half, very disappointing as it is down to detail. The throw-in at the end is not how we defend throw-ins.
“You might be examined within the Premier League, the emotion of it. We go fully off plan [after Rashford’s early goal] and begin opening up massive areas. However by way of the togetherness, the work ethic, I believed second half, we had been by far the higher facet.”
What’s subsequent?
Manchester United host West Ham on Tremendous Sunday, reside on Sky Sports activities; kick-off 2pm.
Wolves journey to Chelsea, additionally on Sunday; kick-off 2pm.