Sarabia's stunning free-kick seals Wolves double at Old Trafford
Pablo Sarabia's goal earned Wolves their first double of Manchester United since the 1979-80 season. Pic: Martin Rickett/PA Wire.
MANCHESTER United slumped to another Old Trafford league defeat, thanks to Pablo Sarabia’s free-kick, and Ruben Amorim provided the answer to one very simple question.
If United supporters were wondering what their team would have looked like this season without their inspirational skipper Bruno Fernandes, Amorim’s decision to start with him on the bench provided the depressing answer.
Amorim had good cause for fielding a weakened line-up, handing a debut to young defender Tyler Fredricson in the process, with United’s season now firmly revolving around Europe.
But their performance was so lacklustre that Fernandes had actually been brought on as a substitute by the time Wolves won a 77th minute free-kick after Christian Eriksen clattered into Matheus Cunha just outside the area.
Sarabia, who had only been on the field for only three minutes, sent a superb strike sailing above the leaping United wall and into the top corner of the goal to cap a memorable Wolves victory.
It was their first double over United since 1979-80 and an eighth home league defeat of the campaign for the Reds - their worst mark since losing nine at Old Trafford in 1962-63.
After a dire opening half hour, United had at least looked capable of threatening the Wolves goal over the final 15 minutes of the first half, even if Dan Bentley was not overly troubled.
On 33 minutes, he punched a well-hit 30-yard free-kick from Eriksen over his bar, although it would have been a surprise if he had been beaten from that range.
And in the final minute, Kobbie Mainoo won the ball in midfield, played a one-two with Alejandro Garnacho, and sent a long-range shot bouncing just beyond the far post.
It was a dull reminder of just how much United have relied on Fernandes this season and why Amorim had rightly elected to rest him ahead of the upcoming Europa League semis with Athletic Bilbao.
Fortunately for United, Wolves had even less to offer in attacking terms, as they head firmly into end of season territory, with relegation no longer a concern.
Not until the 50th minute, when Jorgen Strand Larsen whipped a near-post cross-shot straight at Andre Onana, was the United goal under the remotest of threat.
United’s malaise in front of goal has been summed up this season by Rasmus Hojlund who ended the game with just one goal from his last 29 hours and 28 minutes of football.
He looked like he might be about to improve that record, as he broke clear on 53 minutes, but Toti Gomes made a great recovering tackle to stop the Dane in his tracks before he could even line up a shot.
Indeed, the most exciting moment of the opening hour came soon after, when Nelson Semedo hit a back pass and, with Bentley not where he thought he would be, it appeared that the ball might roll into the Wolves goal until it curled wide and the keeper recovered.
When a Cunha corner deflected narrowly behind off Victor Lindelof, Amorim had seen enough and made a triple substitution on the hour, including Fernandes.
Fernandes almost made an instant impact, firing in a pass for Eriksen to lay off for Garnacho whose low cross was missed at the far post - yet again - by Hojlund.
Amorim maintained the youth theme by bringing on 17-year-old striker Chido Obi, but United’s lack of attacking threat was afflicting even Fernandes. On 73 minutes, Garnacho reached him with a square ball which the Portuguese mis-hit wide from six yards.
After Wolves broke the deadlock, Cunha curled a shot at Onana, a wasted chance, really; and Mason Mount fired over wildly form 12 yards out.
Onana 6; Mazraoui 5, Lindelof 5 (Yoro 78, 5), Fredricson 6; Dorgu 6 (Dalot 59, 5), Eriksen 6, Ugarte 6 (Fernandes 59, 7), Amass 8; Garnacho 6, Mainoo 6 (Mount 59, 5); Hojlund 4 (Obi 70. 5). Substitutes (not used) Casemiro, Evans, Heaton, Maguire, Yoro.
Bentley 7; Bueno 7, Agbadou 7, T Gomes 7; Semedo 5 (R Gomes 74, 5), Andre 6, J Gomes 6, Ait-Nouri 7 (Doherty 82); Munetsi 5, Cunha 8 (Djiga 90); Strand Larsen 5 (Sarabia 74, 5). Substitutes (not used) Mane, Doyle, Forbs, King, Traore.
R Jones 7
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
