Man United vs Wolves score, result, highlights as Varane goal gives Red Devils win after massive VAR controversy
For much of the season opening match at Old Trafford, Wolves had Manchester United doing plenty of soul searching, locking down the Red Devil attack and creating chances of their own on the counter.
Yet the visitors couldn’t finish their chances to make United pay for their struggles, and in a tale as old as time, they would come to rue those mistakes.
Raphael Varane reversed Man United’s fortunes in one fell swoop, scoring the game’s only goal on 76 minutes, leading the Red Devils to a nervy but hard-earned 1-0 victory, collecting all three points to open the year.
Matheus Cunha shredded the United midfield on multiple occasions, barreling down their throats over and over in transition. Yet he also had the game’s biggest miss, one of at least three chances Wolves should have put away. In truth, United should have been punished at the very end, but were let off the hook by a disastrous refereeing decision from Simon Hooper and VAR not to award a penalty deep in stoppage time.
In the end, Erik ten Hag can breathe easy knowing his side escaped further punishment, but he clearly has more work to do if they are hoping to challenge for the Premier League title this season.
Man United vs Wolves final score
| Score | Goal scorers | |
| Man United | 1 | Varane (76′) |
| Wolves | 0 | – |
Starting lineups:
Man United (4-2-3-1, right to left): 24. Onana (GK) — 29. Wan-Bissaka, 19. Varane, 6. L. Martinez (Lindelof, 46′), 23. Shaw — 18. Casemiro, 7. Mount (Eriksen, 68′) — 21. Antony (Pellistri, 78′), 8. Fernandes, 49. Garnacho (Sancho, 68′) — 10. Rashford (McTominay, 87′).
Wolves (4-4-1-1, right to left): 1. Sa (GK) — 22. Semedo, 15. Dawson, 23. Kilman, 3. Ait-Nouri (Bueno, 79′) — 27. Nunes, 5. Lemina, 35. Gomes (Kalajdzic, 88′), 7. Neto — 21. Sarabia (Hwang, 63′) — 12. Cunha (F. Silva, 79′).
Man United vs Wolves live updates, highlights, commentary
FULLTIME: Man United 1-0 Wolves
It’s hard to overstate how lucky Manchester United are to collect three points in this match. Not only were they let off the hook by a number of misses from Wolves in the final third, but Wolves absolutely should have won a penalty in stoppage time.
There’s just no other way to put it other than a calamitous error from referee Simon Hooper and the VAR crew at Old Trafford. Andre Onana clearly fouled Sasa Kalajdzic deep in stoppage time, but both Hooper and VAR let it go.
The Red Devils were poor, but they secure the victory. Incredible drama, but you feel for Wolves players, coaches, and fans who will be flabbergasted how they have not come away from this with any points.
Man United vs Wolves: Second Half
90+6 min: CONTROVERSY! Oh my, Man United are in real trouble here. Andre Onana comes out to punch a delivery into the box, but comes nowhere close to the ball and instead pummels Kalajdzic right in the head. If that happens on the street outside the stadium, you’d be arrested for assault.
Somehow, INCREDIBLY, VAR does not recommend that Simon Hooper have a review! Gary O’Neill is livid, and rightly so, to be honest. It’s a miserable mistake by VAR here, because that’s a blatant foul. O’Neill is booked for his protests. Manchester United are incredibly lucky.
