Wolves 2 Man City 1: Hwang reminds Pep who he is after press conference gaffe by denting Premier League title hopes
MANCHESTER CITY suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season as Wolves’ Hwang Hee-chan ensured his name would not be forgotten this time by Pep Guardiola.The Spanish boss watched from the Molineux directors’ box as his City juggernaut were brought to a shuddering halt for the first time in a meaningful league match since February.
Hwang Hee-Chan scored a famous winner for WolvesCredit: Reuters
It was a frustrating afternoon for the championsCredit: Getty
Guardiola, who was serving a one-match touchline ban for disciplinary reasons, could not remember how to pronounce Hwang in his pre-match press conference, referring to the Asian forward as the “Korean guy”.
But he will have remembered all his details on the M6 back up to Manchester as City’s prospects of going the entire campaign undefeated were ruined by Wolves in the Black Country driving rain.
This caps a humbling few days for City – first they were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Newcastle United, thus denying them the prospect of a Quadruple.
Now, a brilliant and well-organised Wolves have shown others that it is possible to stop City – and they deserve this win, particularly the brilliant display by goalkeeper Jose Sa.
No sooner had play started that the X-rated chants about Matheus Nunes began, originating first from the Sir Jack Hayward Stand and then spreading across the rest of this grand old stadium.
Anyone with sensitive hearing may not have appreciated the industrial language – members of Nunes’s family would have certainly been deeply upset.
But the depth of anger and frustration towards their former player was evident, especially how they feel he went about trying to force a £53million deadline-day move to the Etihad.
Before he had even touched the ball for the first time, the Portugal midfielder was branded a “c” and a “w**” by tens of thousands of disgruntled Wolves supporters.
City fans responded by singing that he was appearing for the side top of the league but their efforts fell on deaf ears.
Nunes, 25, could have immediately shut up the boo-boys as one of his passes, an exceptional chip out wide to Jeremy Doku, almost lead to the opening goal on six minutes.
Yet fair play to Wolves defender Craig Dawson, who managed to do enough with the slide tackle to avert the ball away from Erling Haaland at the crucial moment when it was squared across goal by Doku.
It was magnificent defending from the centre-back, who did a fantastic job of marshalling the Norwegian power-house throughout the first half.
Haaland, who was making his 40th Premier League start, had been an unused spectator on the substitutes bench at St James’ Park last Wednesday.
But starved of any proper service, this was one of his more frustrating appearances in a City shirt – at times, he was such a peripheral figure, you barely recalled he was involved.
Wolves spent the opening 10 minutes camped in their own half but when they were finally able to progress forward for the first time they managed to do what only five other teams have done this year – get the better of Ederson.
Pedro Neto fortuitously won possession off Mateo Kovacic in midfield and easily held of the challenge of Ben Foden before skinning Nathan Ake as he charged down the right channel.
As he tried to square for teammate Matheus Cunha, his delivery flicked off the left shin of Ruben Dias and flew past the Brazilian goalkeeper.
Maybe because the final touch had come off an international teammate, Neto decided against celebrating as Molineux went mad and inevitably reminded former flame Nunes of the score line.
The last action of the first half came via a Foden set-piece but the header by Dias was caught with little concern by Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa.
Guardiola had seen enough and with his ears ringing from the jeers and catcalls, Nunes was subbed off before the start of the second half, replaced by Oscar Bobb.
This amused the Black County faithful, who took great delight in singing “what a waste of money”.
Wolves’ lead lasted until 13 minutes into the second half when Julian Alvarez scored a Beckhamesque free-kick from 20 yards out thanks to a superb execution with his right boot.
What had angered the home support was that Joao Gomes was penalised for fouling Bobb even though minutes down the other end, Cunha did not get anything when he was brought down on a counter-attack.
City could have doubled that lead soon after that but first a Foden attempt was cleared off the line by Dawson and then Sa pulled off a stunning save to deny Manuel Akanji.
That could have been the stage for a Wolves collapse and City comeback but the opposite happened.
Against the run of play on 66 minutes, thanks to quick thinking by Cunha, Hwang managed to slot home from close range after his first shot was blocked.
The ink has barely dried on a new four-year contract but Sa more than earned his weekly wage, notably saving a shot from Kyle Walker that had sailed through a sea of legs.
They may well end up winning the title for a fourth year in a row but they won’t be able to call themselves Invincibles – and Arsene Wenger, the former Arsenal chief, will be able to sleep well tonight.
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Here is how the famous win at Molineux played out…
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