Raphael Varane secured victory for Manchester United with a timely goal 14 minutes before the final whistle

Raphael Varane secured victory for Manchester United with a timely goal 14 minutes before the final whistle, propelling them to a fortunate win over Wolves in their inaugural match of the new Premier League season. Until a brilliant pass from Bruno Fernandes located Aaron Wan-Bissaka within the penalty area, Erik ten Hag’s squad struggled to generate significant opportunities.

With precision, Wan-Bissaka lofted the ball delicately to the edge of the six-yard box, where Varane capitalized on his height advantage over Nelson Semedo, nodding the ball past him and into the net. The outcome was undeniably cruel for Wolves, who defied last week’s managerial change to deliver an exceptional performance in Gary O’Neil’s debut as manager.

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O’Neil’s fervent protests regarding a late penalty claim resulted in his booking, while United narrowly clung to their stroke of luck to secure victory. During added time, debutant goalkeeper Andre Onana of United avoided penalty for a collision with Sasa Kalajdzic, as he charged for a cross without making contact with the ball.

Before these events unfolded, Matheus Cunha had a golden opportunity to grant Wolves the lead. Following a low cross from Pablo Sarabia, Cunha found himself unmarked near the far post, but despite steadying himself, he struck the ball against the outside of the upright. Just prior to halftime, Cunha’s low shot missed the target, and Pedro Neto’s attempt was collected by Onana. As Wolves pressed for an equalizer, Fabio Silva’s two promising shots were saved.

In a pre-game interview, legendary United manager Sir Alex Ferguson commended the efforts of Erik ten Hag and anticipated an upturn in United’s fortunes upon the recovery of £72 million forward Rasmus Hojlund from a back injury he sustained while at Atalanta. Shortly thereafter, Hojlund took his place alongside Tom Heaton and Jonny Evans in the directors’ box.

Sir Alex’s insights were substantiated when the match commenced. Marcus Rashford, playing as the main striker, struggled to make an impact, while Alejandro Garnacho and Antony remained subdued on the flanks. The scarcity of goals in their recent encounters wasn’t surprising, given that these two teams managed to score more than one goal only twice in their last 11 meetings over four years.

Another new recruit for United, Mason Mount, also failed to leave a mark. Amidst a largely average offensive display, Bruno Fernandes’ brilliant pass that led to the decisive goal stood out. The Old Trafford crowd embraced their new hero, Andre Onana, whose solid goalkeeping performance and conservative ball distribution earned him praise and support.

Despite O’Neil’s disbelief at the post-game whistle and the vociferous backing from Wolves fans, the penalty denied to Wolves underlined the way they played. O’Neil had a mere four days to prepare for the opening game, highlighting the challenges faced by his squad. Matheus Cunha displayed excellence in various aspects but missed the mark where it counted the most – scoring goals. Scoring has been a persistent concern for Wolves, placing the onus on O’Neil to find a solution.

Two unresolved off-field issues persist at Old Trafford as the new season kicks off. The ownership situation, initiated by a ‘strategic review’ last November, remains unsettled. Likewise, the future of Mason Greenwood, who was cleared of criminal charges but was subject to an internal investigation, is yet to be decided. The absence of clarity on these fronts fueled protests outside the stadium, with ‘Glazers Out’ chants permeating the arena. The banners addressing the Greenwood situation underscore United’s predicament in handling a player who hasn’t committed any legal wrongdoing.