Alejandro Garnacho and Anthony Martial both scored goals to give Manchester United a crucial three points. Manchester United’s 2-0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday was a significant step toward securing a top-four spot.
The Red Devils, who were by much the superior team, scored in the first half thanks to Anthony Martial, but they didn’t capitalize on their superiority until the last minute when substitute Alejandro Garnacho scored a deserving second.
At Old Trafford, the game got off to a sluggish start as United saw a lot of the ball but struggled to get past Wolves’ low block. Early on, Craig Dawson did miss a chance from a corner, and Antony could have done better with a United breakaway but instead fired wide of the far post.
The first effort on goal didn’t come until the 27th minute when Bruno Fernandes’ free kick was stopped by Dan Bentley in the opposition’s goal. After that, United seemed to come alive, as Christian Eriksen missed a long-range shot before Antony’s back-post header missed the mark.
The Red Devils scored their first goal in minute 32 thanks to a well-executed team goal from Jadon Sancho, Bruno Fernandes, and Antony. The latter then passed the ball over to the waiting Martial, who tapped it in for his eighth goal of the year.
Bentley saved Victor Lindelof’s header that rebounded off Matheus Cunha in the closing minutes of the first half, while the Wolves goalkeeper stopped Anthony Martial’s late effort.
After the half, Antony had an early attempt stopped and then missed a chance in the 59th minute. Bentley kept out goals from Fernandes and then Sancho as the game wore on. In the midst of the second half, Casemiro’s deflected shot went wide before Wout Weghorst’s close-range header missed the mark.
In the closing five minutes of regulation time, as United attempted to put the game out of reach, Fernandes had two attempts that came near. Bentley, meantime, did well to save Antony’s low strike just seconds before the fourth official brought up the board to indicate six minutes of extra time.
Garnacho also made sure there were no lingering jitters for United in stoppage time by scoring on a counterattack with a shot that deflected off the inside of the post. Here are the player ratings for United.
- Aaron Wan-Bissaka, a seven
Strong on the right and sometimes connected with Antony.
2. Raphael Varane: 8 (from 81)
On his comeback, he played superb defense and denied the Wolves any opportunities.
2. Victor Lindelof, number 7,
played effectively in the center of the United defense and won key crucial headers.
3. Luke Shaw, age 8
The wolves had little success down their right side while being composed at left-back.
