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Attendance: 31,314
Wolves logo
Premier League | Gameweek 2
Aug 19, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
Manchester United logo

1-1

Neves (55')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Martial (27')

Live Commentary: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 Manchester United - as it happened

Wolverhampton Wanderers held Manchester United 1-1 at Molineux as Anthony Martial's opener was cancelled out by Ruben Neves, with Paul Pogba seeing a penalty saved.
2

Wolverhampton Wanderers held Manchester United at Molineux thanks to a brilliant Ruben Neves strike.

Anthony Martial opened the scoring for United in a cagey first half with his 50th goal for the club - a first-time, left-footed effort that flew past Rui Patricio.

However, Neves responded with a stunning effort from the edge of the box that went in off the crossbar, leaving David de Gea no chance.

Paul Pogba had the chance to restore United's lead when he was tripped by Conor Coady inside the box but saw his penalty well-saved by a diving Patricio.


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Good evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's exciting Premier League encounter between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United at Molineux!

Wolves will be looking for their first league win of the season after being held to a 0-0 draw by Leicester City on opening day, while United's 4-0 thrashing of Chelsea certainly won't have harmed the mood in the Red Devils' camp ahead of this one.

Kickoff is just five minutes away, and here's the team news...

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS XI: Patricio; Bennett, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Neves, Dendoncker, Moutinho, Jonny; Jota, Jimenez

Subs: Vinagre, Neto, Ruddy, Traore, Gibbs-White, Cutrone, Saiss

MANCHESTER UNITED XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; McTominay, Pogba; Rashford, Lingard, James; Martial

Subs: Greenwood, Pereira, Young, Mata, Tuanzebe, Romero, Matic

KICKOFF:  We're underway at Molineux!

Wolves can feel confident in this one, having lost none of their last three meetings with United in all competitions, winning both games at this ground.

United are struggling for away form, too, having failed to win in any of their last four away from Old Trafford in the Premier League (D1 L3).

United have started on the front foot and are dominating the ball, with Wolves happy to sit in, soak up the pressure and hit their visitors on the counter.

One such counter looks threatening as Jota drives at the United defence, before working it wide to the right-hand side and forcing Shaw to concede a corner.

United go up the other end and win a corner of their own, but Shaw's lofted delivery to the back post is dealt with well and it's ushered out of play.

Wolves are struggling to keep the ball and Jota concedes a free-kick after a loose pass gifts the ball back to United. It's floated into the box but Bennett heads away comfortably.

Plenty of possession for United so far but they've yet to really test the Wolves defence. Pogba has tried a couple of longer passes over the top but they've not come off yet.

Another driving run by Jota - who has been the most threatening player on the field thus far - earns his side a free-kick that Moutinho curls in. It's headed clear but Wolves recycle the ball and keep the pressure on for a spell.

Jota drifts wide and gets away down the left before lifting his head to spot the run of a teammate as he reaches the byline. He tries to cut it back to the penalty spot but it's read well and thumped clear.

CHANCE!  The first real opportunity of the game falls United's way. Rashford shows some lovely skill on the left, feinting twice before crossing dangerously for Martial at the back post, but the Frenchman just can't make contact from close range! The Wolves defence were scrambling a little there.

United try to create some space in midfield through interchanges as Lingard drops deep to pick up the ball before Maguire surges into midfield and stays there to offer an extra passing option. Shaw then goes on a bustling run down the left as Pogba plays him through but overruns it in the end.

Pogba is starting to find his range with these through-balls now. It was his pass that set Rashford on his way in the build-up to that earlier chance and he wins a free kick here as Dendoncker comes in late and clips him.

YELLOW CARD!  Moutinho picks up the first yellow card of the game as he struggles to deal with James' pace out wide and runs across him as the Welshman looked to burst down the line.

A long ball over the top causes a bit of chaos in the United box and it's headed awkwardly back to De Gea, but he does well to catch and diffuse the situation.

GOAL!  MARTIAL MAKES IT 1-0! United produce some slick attacking play and Rashford slips Martial into the box on the left. The Frenchman takes it first-time, on his weaker left foot, and rifles it past Patricio, high into the net at the near post! What a finish!

That was the first shot of any kind from either team this evening, and it's ended up in the back of the net!

Wolves look to hit back and Jota continues to show positivity in his play as he drives down the left, getting to the byline inside the box and winning a corner off Wan-Bissaka.

SHOT!  The corner comes back out to Jimenez, who tries to volley it goalwards but it's at an awkward height for him. As a result, the shot is rather tame and comfortably blocked away.

United are stroking it around nicely now, taking the sting out of the game and killing any momentum Wolves were trying to gather. In a game of few chances so far, the Red Devils may be happy to simply take their 1-0 lead into the half-time break.

The ball is fizzed into the feet of Martial and, despite having Boly for company, he makes it stick and holds it up well, although it's eventually nicked off him as Wolves retreat into shape.

Pogba looks for a little dink over the top to Martial on the penalty spot and it's inches away from being perfect. It's dealt with well by Coady in the end, who does just enough to head clear.

United win their second corner of the game. They're playing at a lower intensity, but they're making sure to keep the ball in the Wolves half and keep the pressure on.

Maguire heads the ball back into the middle from the back post and it's flicked on, but Wolves just about manage to hack clear with several red shirts lurking.

Martial produces some lovely quick feet on the edge of the box and plays a one-two with James. He gets it back inside a crowded box and as he flicks it up for a volley he's denied the space to release the shot and it's smuggled away.

United have controlled proceedings with real efficiency since going ahead and look set to take their slender lead into the half-time break. De Gea has hardly had a kick.

CHANCE!  Coady plays a terrible back-pass and Martial races through to latch onto it on the edge of the box. He looks to be clean through, but Boly makes a sensational recovery tackle despite being the wrong side of the United forward and Wolves breathe a sigh of relief!

HALF TIME:  WOLVES 0-1 MAN UTD

There goes the half-time whistle! It has been a cagey game so far, with Martial opening the scoring for United on 27 minutes with the first shot of the game. The Red Devils have controlled proceedings well thereafter, with Wolves largely penned into their own half and unable to keep the ball for long periods.

Jota has been Wolves' brightest spark by far and his counter-attacks at pace looked a real threat early on, but once United were ahead they organised well to prevent the tricky forward from breaking the lines with any support, stacking the midfield with bodies.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will no doubt be pleased with the efficiency his side have shown so far, but his counterpart will be less than impressed in the home dressing room. Wolves need to show more energy and desire in their pressing if they are to trouble United and get back into this game. They've been very passive so far.

KICKOFF:  We're back underway for the second half! Traore has come off the bench to replace Doherty at right wing-back.

CHANCE!  Great chance for Wolves! Traore immediately shows positivity, driving down the right and crossing into the box. It's headed out as far as Moutinho, who feeds Jonny on the left and the Spaniard fizzes it to Jimenez at the near post, but it ricochets around and goes over the bar!

Moutinho was caught by James in the build-up to that chance and requires a little bit of treatment, but looks like he will be fine to carry on.

SHOT!  United work it down their right flank and it's floated in towards Lingard by Wan-Bissaka inside the box. Lingard swipes at his volley but gets the contact all wrong and it ends up bouncing off his face! Not his finest effort.

YELLOW CARD!  James draws the second yellow card of the game with his pace as Neves lunges in to make a tackle and is a fraction late to the ball, catching the forward on the ankle and going into the book.

SHOT!  Pogba lines one up from distance but doesn't hit it with any conviction and it trickles wide of the target. However, it did take a little nick off Boly on the way out and Lingard is furious that a goal kick, rather than a corner, has been awarded.

OFF THE POST!  Maguire fouls Traore just outside the right corner of the box and Moutinho stands over the free-kick. He curls a fantastic ball into the middle that Jimenez flicks on past De Gea and onto the far post, but it comes back out, hits the goalkeeper and stays out!

GOAL!  WOLVES 1-1 MAN UTD (RUBEN NEVES)

GOAL!  What a strike from Neves! A corner is worked short and the ball is fizzed into Neves on the edge of the box by Moutinho. The midfielder takes two touches to set himself before curling a sweet, dipping strike over De Gea and in off the underside of the crossbar in the top-right corner! What a goal!

There's a brief delay as VAR checks for offside against Moutinho in the build-up, but he's definitely on and the goal stands!

SHOT!  Traore skips inside Shaw with a little stepover and lashes a low, left-footed effort through the left-back's legs, but he drags it well wide of the near post.

SHOT!  United try to hit back as the ball is fizzed in low from the right and a deflection just takes it away from Martial at the back post, before McTominay's effort on the edge of the area is charged down and blocked away.

SHOT!  Rashford stands over a free-kick wide to the left of goal. He inexplicably opts to shoot instead of crossing into the box and it's an awful, dragged effort that's nowhere near the target.

Wolves have clearly been buoyed by their equaliser and are looking much more assured in possession. United have lost a little of their composure in the hosts' half and are trying a little too much, giving the ball away cheaply at times.

YELLOW CARD!  Bennett picks up the most deserved yellow card of the day as he chops down Rashford in full flight, getting nowhere near the ball and hacking the England forward down.

PENALTY!  United have a penalty! Martial's clever flick releases Pogba into the box and he skips away from Coady before going over his outstretched leg. He dusts himself down to take this one.

PENALTY!  PAUL POGBA MISSES! Surprisingly, there's no stutter in his run-up and he powers a shot towards the bottom-left, but Patricio guesses the right way and palms it aside at full stretch!

SHOT!  Shaw floats a United corner into the box and Pogba tries to atone for his penalty miss by meeting the cross with his head, but he can only nod wide of the target.

SHOT!  Another corner comes in, this time from the left, and it ends up with Wan-Bissaka on the right just outside the box. He hits it first-time and balloons it miles over the bar. Low-flying aircraft beware.

Rashford gets down the left and tries to cross into the box, but it's an awful attempt and it sails out for a goal kick to the right of the goal frame.

SHOT!  United put together a sweeping counter-attack down the right and the ball is crossed into Rashford in the middle, but his shot is blocked away and, though Martial retrieves it, he can't fashion an opening.

This game is really delicately poised. Both sides are keen to win it but neither wants to throw everyone forward and risk losing. Traore darts down the right and crosses low into the box, but it's hacked clear.

Solskjaer brings Mata on for Lingard as he looks for a more incisive passer to link things together in the final third.

SHOT!  Traore is released down the right and floats a looping cross to the back post where Jonny is arriving unmarked. The Spaniard's header is firm but not powerful enough to trouble De Gea, who makes the save look easy. Great opportunity for Wolves to go ahead, though.

SHOT!  Wan-Bissaka handles the ball and is the first United player of the night to go into the book.

CLOSE!  Wolves break quickly and the ball is crossed into Dendoncker at the back post by Jota, but the midfielder can only spoon his effort over the bar from close range! What a let-off for United!

Neto now replaces Jota alongside Jimenez up front as the summer signing from Lazio makes his Premier League bow.

Maguire plays a loose back-pass and De Gea has to come off his line quickly and boot clear under pressure. A nervy moment for the former Leicester City defender there.

A double-change from Solskjaer now as he gambles on a late winner. Pereira and Greenwood come on for James and Rashford.

Cutrone makes his second Premier League appearance as a substitute, replacing Jimenez for the closing stages.

A couple of fouls from tired Wolves legs now as the game draws to a close, with Pogba and McTominay on the receiving end.

SHOT!  What a chance for United to win it at the death! The ball is worked across the box from right to left and it comes to Shaw just inside the area in space. He strikes at goal but it's straight at Patricio, who gratefully clings on. That should be that.

FULL TIME:  WOLVES 1-1 MAN UTD

There goes the full-time whistle! Martial's 50th goal for Manchester Untied - a fine left-footed finish from inside the box in the first half - was cancelled out by a Neves stunner in the second period, the Portuguese midfielder curling a delightful, dipping effort in off the crossbar. United remain fourth on goal-difference, while Wolves also stay in 13th after their second successive draw. Wolves face Serie A side Torino next in their Europa League play-off, while United have the week to prepare for the visit of Crystal Palace.

Thank you for joining our coverage, we hope you enjoyed the game.

If you would like to read Sports Mole's match report for the game, click here. Until next time, goodbye!


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Raul Jimenez in action for Wolves on July 25, 2019
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