Manchester United Scrap to Hard-fought Opening Day Win Over Wolves
Varane's Header Secures Narrow Victory
Controversial Penalty Decision Marred the Match
The scoreline may not come as a surprise, but the manner in which Manchester United secured their opening day win over Wolves was undoubtedly shocking. In a match marred by controversy, Raphael Varane's 71st-minute header proved decisive, giving Erik ten Hag's side a narrow 1-0 victory.
Wolves started the game brightly, and they could have taken the lead as early as the fifth minute when Fabio Silva hit the post with a close-range effort. United, on the other hand, struggled to create clear-cut chances, with Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho failing to make the most of their opportunities.
The match took a dramatic turn in the 69th minute when referee Stuart Attwell awarded United a controversial penalty. Wolves defender Nathan Collins was adjudged to have brought down Cristiano Ronaldo, although replays suggested the contact was minimal. Bruno Fernandes converted the spot-kick, giving United the lead.
Wolves fought back valiantly and deservedly equalized in the 85th minute through Willy Boly. However, United snatched all three points in the dying moments of the game when Varane headed home from a Luke Shaw cross.
The victory will come as a relief to ten Hag, who was desperate for a positive start to his tenure at Old Trafford. However, the manner of the win will leave him with plenty of questions, and he will need to find a way to improve his team's performance if they are to challenge for the title this season.
Komentar