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Wolves logo
FA Cup | Quarter-Finals
Mar 16, 2019 at 7.55pm UK
 
Manchester United logo

2-1

Jimenez (70'), Jota (76')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Rashford (95')

Live Commentary: Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 Manchester United - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live text coverage of Wolves' 2-1 win over Man United, as goals from Raul Jimenez and Diogo Jota fired the hosts to Wembley.
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Second-half goals from Raul Jimenez and Diogo Jota fired Wolverhampton Wanderers to Wembley as they overcame Manchester United 2-1 in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

After forcing Sergio Romero into a few good saves, Wolves finally took the lead 20 minutes from time through Jimenez, before Jota doubled his side's tally soon after with a breakaway goal.

Marcus Rashford pulled one back in the 95th minute, but that was not enough to prevent United from crashing out of the competition as they fell to back-to-back defeats under interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.


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Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the FA Cup quarter-final clash between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United at Molineux. The two sides face off for the 100th time in this all-Premier League affair as they battle it out for a place in the FA Cup semi-finals.

Just three places separate the teams in the top flight in what is arguably the pick of the sixth-round ties, though United head into the match as firm favourites. Watford and Manchester City are already in the hat for the last four - will it be Wolves or United who join them?


WOLVES TEAM NEWS!

STARTING XI (3-5-2): Ruddy; Saiss, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Dendoncker, Neves, Saiss, Moutinho, Jonny; Jota, Jimenez

SUBS: Norris, Bennett, Cavaleiro, Costa, Gibbs-White, Vinagre, Traore


MANCHESTER UNITED TEAM NEWS!

STARTING XI (4-3-3): Romero; Dalot, Smalling, Lindelof, Shaw; Herrera, Matic, Pogba; Lingard, Rashford, Martial

SUBS: De Gea, Jones, Rojo, Pereira, Fred, McTominay, Mata


KICKOFF:  Wolves show just one change from their 1-1 draw with Chelsea last weekend, bringing in cup goalkeeper Ruddy for Patricio in goal. United also change keepers, with Romero in for the benched De Gea - one of four changes for the visitors, who get us underway here!

John Ruddy in action during the FA Cup third-round game between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool on January 7, 2019© Reuters


It has been raining all day in the West Midlands, and is still raining, which makes for difficult conditions. That is not even mentioning the wind, which played a big part in a couple of the earlier games up and down the land today.

It has been a pretty slow-tempo start to the match, but 12-time FA Cup winners United are starting to move the ball around a little better now. Coady challenges Lingard to concede a free kick.

Shaw has had more touches of the ball than any other player in this match so far (24). The full-back tries to cut the ball back for Rashford, but it does not quite reach his teammate. The visitors are starting to boss possession.

Smalling barges right into Jota, which sums up United's gameplan well - they are not going to give their opponents a moment on the ball. Martial has the ball at his feet in the box but he is unable to clip it towards a teammate.

An important header from Coady puts a temporary end to this latest United attack. For all the visitors' possession, though, they have not really done a great deal with it so far. Wolves are happy to soak up the pressure when they have to.

SHOT!  Wolves have enjoyed their best spell on the ball so far over the last couple of minutes. Moutinho is trying to dictate possession and there is a good give-and-go between Jonny and Jota towards the left-hand side. Possession is lost, though, and Pogba's tame shot sails wide at the end of a quick counter.

Wolves managed just one shot of note at Stamford Bridge last weekend but came away with a 1-1 draw, to the annoyance of Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri. There is no doubt that Wanderers are incredibly tough to play against, as United found out in the reverse league fixture, which finished by the same scoreline.

SAVE!  Rashford has not been all that involved so far. The striker spins towards goal and unleashes a shot from outside the box, which is comfortably dealt with by Wolves' back-up keeper Ruddy.

Matic puts far too much pace on his intended pass for Martial, allowing Ruddy to gobble it up. This is shaping up to be a slow-burner of a match, with just that one Rashford shot on target so far in the opening 17 minutes.

Jimenez goes the long way around Lindelof, winning a side a corner following some good link-up play from Wolves' attacking players. The set-piece is aimed towards Saiss and is sliced clear by Rashford.

The milestone fixtures between these two sides has not been one for the purists so far. There has been plenty of probing at both ends but some poor quality in the final third.



United's play is very predictable - they need to change it up a little if they are to find a way through on goal. The visitors have had two-thirds of the ball so far, but they need to start making the most of it.

Wolves wing-back Jonny has had fewer touches (six) than any other outfield player in this match so far. By contrast, opposite number Shaw has had a game-high 46 touches. There is a breakdown in communication as Martial gets nowhere near a pass aimed towards him.

United are trying to be a little too clever with their passing. It is not working for Solskjaer's men, who have not looked like scoring in the opening half an hour. Wolves have also struggled to create anything, but they will be the happier of the two sides.

Rashford gets on a ball played down the right-hand side and tries to pick out Martial in the middle, but Coady gets a foot to it first to concede a corner. The set-piece is worked short and is eventually squared by Lingard, though Wolves defend the danger.

Poor from Doherty, who runs straight into Shaw when attempting to get into the box. Jota fares better from the opposite side, sending in a decent cross that is headed behind by Shaw, who is having another good game at left-back.

SAVE!  This is a good, controlled shot from Neves - Wolves' first attempt of the contest. The Portuguese midfielder hits the ball first time from five yards outside the box, but it is too central and Romero gets his body behind it.

SAVE!  Two shots on target in the space of about a minute for Wolves. The hosts work the ball well, getting it out to Doherty on the right. Jota attacks it, but he cannot quite wrap his foot around the ball and the save is as simple as you like for Romero.

Man United goalkeeper Romero has now made as many saves in this match (two) as he had to make in the whole of his side's last FA Cup tie away at Chelsea in February. They may have been weak efforts, but the hosts are at least starting to offer more of an attacking threat now.

Marcus Rashford pictured during Manchester United's FA Cup quarter-final tie with Wolverhampton Wanderers on March 16, 2019© Reuters


Shaw is a bit too precise with his corner routine. The ball does fall to Rashford, though, and the striker decides to go for power over precision from 25 yards, only succeeding in skewing the ball high and wide. Poor attempt.

There is a long, long way to go yet, of course, but it is worth pointing out that this game will go to extra time and penalties if it remains all square at the end of 90 minutes. Wolves are back in the ascendancy, but Shaw produces a good block to cut out the right-sided cross.

Jimenez is making a nuisance of himself in the final third, winning a corner from Pogba. Boly and Dendoncker both fall to the floor in the box, and there did look to be a push on one or both of them, but referee Martin Atkinson does not go to VAR.

PENALTY APPEAL!  It's United's turn to appeal for a penalty. Dalot's shot hits the elbow of Jonny, who turned his back on the ball. On this occasion, Martin Atkinson does check in with his VAR officials, but it is decided that a review is not required.

YELLOW CARD!  The first yellow card of the evening is shown to Wolves defender Boly for tripping Pogba, who was trying to break clear after United successfully defended a corner. I think that is what you call taking one for the team.

SAVE!  United's corner is poor and Wolves are able to turn defence into attack. Neves plays the ball in behind the visitors' backline and Jota has just Romero to beat, which he fails to do. The back-up keeper is nearly on the edge of the box by the time Jota sets himself, and he gets two hands to the shot.

YELLOW CARD!  Neves is the latest Wolves player to be shown a yellow card for cynically halting the run of Pogba. Matic has also been shown a yellow at the end of this first half for fouling Jimenez, coming seconds before Jota's shot deflected wide.

HALF TIME:  WOLVES 0-0 MAN UNITED

The teams go into half time all square at 0-0. The first half lacked quality, with just one big chance in the opening 45 minutes - Romero producing a good save to keep out Jota towards the end of the half. That said, the game did improve as it went on, providing hope of a goal or two after the restart.

The first half gradually improved as it went on, taking 15 minutes for the first shot to arrive through Marcus Rashford's effort from 25 yards that was comfortably dealt with by John Ruddy. Only in one other away game all season have United had more touches of the ball in the first half of a match than they managed here, against Newcastle United in January, but they struggled to turn possession into chances.

With half an hour played Wolves nearly punished their opponents' lack of cutting edge, as Ruben Neves' controlled shot and Diogo Jota's tame attempt forced Sergio Romero into two saves in as many minutes. United had a penalty appeal rejected soon after when Diogo Dalot's shot hit Jonny Castro Otto on the elbow, though Wanderers felt that they had a legitimate shout turned down when Willy Boly and Leander Dendoncker were both sent to the floor as they attacked a corner.

The only clear-cut chance of the opening 45 minutes would fall the home side's way, but Jota was unable to make the most of it after being played through on goal by Neves, being denied by Romero who was quickly off his line. An improvement is required from the Red Devils in the second half, but will Solskjaer make any changes at the interval?

BENCH WATCH!

WOLVES SUBS: Norris, Bennett, Cavaleiro, Costa, Gibbs-White, Vinagre, Traore

MAN UNITED SUBS: De Gea, Jones, Rojo, Pereira, Fred, McTominay, Mata

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in charge of Manchester United on January 25, 2019© Reuters


KICKOFF:  Wolves get this FA Cup quarter-final back up and running! If there is not a breakthrough over the remaining 45 minutes, we will go to extra time and possibly penalties.

CHANCE!  This has to go down as a chance for Rashford, inside the first minute or so of the first half. The striker's pace is too hot for Coady to handle, but to the Wolves defender's credit he does enough to force Rashford slightly wide and the shot is fired into the side-netting.

At this rate it is surely just a matter of time before one of these sides finds a breakthrough goal, with both showing plenty of attacking intent. This attempt from Neves is ambitious to say the least, though, as his 35-yarder ends well wide.

Of the 15 shots attempted in this match so far, 11 have been outside the box. Jimenez charges into the box but Shaw stays tight to him and the shot is off target - make that 16 attempts, 11 outside the box.

YELLOW CARD!  Rashford gives the ball away and knows that he has to win it back. The striker goes in with his feet off the ground, though, leading to a yellow card that will rule him - like Matic - out of the semi-finals if United qualify.

OFF THE BAR!  What a save this is form Romero! Jimenez makes good contact with the corner after outjumping Lindelof, powering his header goalwards for Romero to help it onto the crossbar and out of play with a strong hand.

Over the course of the first hour, it is Wolves who have done more to deserve a lead. Solskjaer has surprisingly held off from making a change, though with Lukaku not in the squad because of injury, Mata is his only real attacking alternative.

Moutinho has created five chances in this match so far - at least three more than any other player. Jimenez tries to catch out Romero with another long-range shot, but this latest attempt deflects out of play for a throw-in. Doherty wanted it played into his path down the right.

SAVE!  Wolves are really starting to knock on the door now as Moutinho's well-struck shot from 25 yards forces Romero into another impressive save. The curler was heading towards the top corner, if not for the intervention of United's star performer.

Wolves scramble the ball clear following some positive play from Shaw down the left. Wolves have had by far the better of this second half, but United are now starting to assert their authority a little more. This one looks to be going the distance.

YELLOW CARD!  United are again guilty of overplaying down the flanks. The good news for the visitors is that they are no longer being penned in; the bad news is that they are still struggling to create anything. This has been a disappointing display. Herrera is booked for sliding in on Jota.

Rashford wins a free-kick to the left of the box, which he sends into the middle. It is a wicked cross that caused some panic in the Wolves area, but it hit a home player and went through for a throw-in. The Red Devils are back on top, without doing any damage.

Wolves have not really offered much of an attacking threat over the last five minutes. Nuno, like opposite number Solskjaer, is holding off from turning to his bench for the time being.

GOAL!  WOLVES 1-0 MAN UNITED (RAUL JIMENEZ)

Wolves have the breakthrough at Molineux - and you have to say it has been deserved on the basis of this second half! Moutinho wriggles through a few players and picks out Jimenez, who manages to pick out the bottom corner of the net despite having four players around him. The build-up was a little scrappy, but the finish was superb after the ball fell for Jimenez to strike.

Raul Jimenez celebrates after opening the scoring for Wolverhampton Wanderers against Manchester United on March 16, 2019© Reuters


MAN UNITED SUB! Solskjaer finally turns to his bench by bringing on Pereira for Herrera. United have not been good enough today - maybe that goal will spark them into life? A free kick is won on the left-hand side of the box, which Pereira is stood over.

Pereira, despite being on the field for just a minute or so, does indeed take on the free kick, sending it straight into the Wolves wall.

SHOT!  Solskjaer has clearly told Pereira to go out there and target Ruddy. The substitute, having already taken a free kick, tries his luck from a more central position. The ball drifts wide of Ruddy's post, the keeper watching it all the way.

GOAL!  WOLVES 2-0 MAN UNITED (DIOGO JOTA)

Wolves are surely heading to Wembley as they have doubled their lead!! Jota turns Shaw inside out, keeps Lindelof at arm's reach and powers the ball past Romero, who perhaps could have done a little more to keep it out. The roof has come off Molineux!

Diogo Jota celebrates after extending Wolverhampton Wanderers' lead against Manchester United on March 16, 2019© Reuters


Shaw's cross is a dangerous one. Coady gets a toe to it but thankfully for him there is nobody in a red shirt waiting to concert at the back post, meaning that Ruddy can bail him out. Incidentally, each of Wolves' last six goals in all competitions have been scored by either Jimenez (four) or Jota (two).

RED CARD!  Lindelof goes sliding in on Jota and Martin Atkinson, surprisingly, reaches into his back pocket. Lindelof makes his way towards the tunnel but VAR may intervene here. That looked a harsh call and it may well be downgraded to a yellow...

RED CARD OVERTURNED! After a two-minute stoppage, Lindelof's red card is wiped out and he is shown a yellow instead. The initial call was harsh so that is the right call from the officials, even if it did take a fair bit of time.

MANCHESTER UNITED SUBS! Solskjaer makes his final two changes, bringing on McTominay and Mata for Lingard and Matic. Coady has just been shown a yellow card for rugby tackling Rashford to step him breaking clear.

"OLE!" is the word being repeated around Molineux - and it is coming from the home fans. This has been another night to remember for them in what has been an incredible campaign. There is just three minutes, plus four or five added on, to be played.

United are really struggling now, unable to get the ball back off their opponents. Wolves are toying with the Red Devils, who have looked very tired today. It is going to be back-to-back defeats for Solskjaer's men.

Five minutes have been added on at the end of this quarter-final tie, the first of which has gone by with little incident. Wolves have been superb in this second half and are cruising over the line.

YELLOW CARD!  Wolves, who have been at their best on the counter this evening, look to hit United via that route again. Dalot lunges in on Moutinho and is shown a yellow card - the eighth of the match.

GOAL!  WOLVES 2-1 MAN UNITED (MARCUS RASHFORD)

Shaw powers down the left, picks out Rashford in the middle and the striker picks out the bottom corner on the turn. A great finish from the striker, but surely that is too little, too late. We have already played the five minutes of added on time.

FULL TIME:  WOLVES 2-1 MAN UNITED

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS ARE THROUGH TO THE SEMI-FINALS OF THE FA CUP!

Wolves are through to the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the first time since 1998 thanks to a 2-1 win over Man United. Second-half goals from Jimenez and Jota fire Wanderers through to Wembley, where they will face one of Watford, Man City, Brighton or Millwall, with the last of the quarter-final ties to take place tomorrow. Rashford pulled one back late on for the Red Devils, but that proved to be nothing more than a consolation as they suffer back-to-back defeats for the first time under interim boss Solskjaer.

That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events from Molineux. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, and be sure to join us tomorrow as we bring you updates from games involving Barcelona, Liverpool and Chelsea. See you then!

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Manchester United forward Anthony Martial in action during his side's Premier League clash with Fulham on February 9, 2019
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