Stones Strikes Gold As Manchester City Sinks Wolves

Manchester City showed their championship grit and determination at Molineux Stadium, striking late to secure a 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

With this win, Pep Guardiola’s men extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to an impressive 31 games.

A Promising Start for Wolves

Despite City’s strong start to the season, scoring a league-high seven goals within the first 20 minutes of their matches, it was the visitors, Wolverhampton, who stunned early on.

Just seven minutes into the first half, Wolves executed a rapid counter-attack that saw Nelson Semedo deliver a pinpoint pass to Jorgen Strand Larsen. The Norwegian striker made no mistake, slotting the ball past the advancing City goalkeeper Ederson with remarkable composure.

City’s Response

Despite going behind, Manchester City displayed characteristic resilience and relentless pressure throughout the half. The away side quickly regained control, dominating possession and creating a series of chances. Wolves’ goalkeeper, José Sá, stepped up to the challenge as he stopped Ilkay Gundogan’s powerful strike, pushing it around the post.

As City piled on the pressure, it was only a matter of time before they found the equalizer.

The breakthrough came in the 38th minute when Josko Gvardiol, following up on his scoring performance against Newcastle United, collected the ball just outside the box. With a spectacular curling effort, he sent the ball curling into the top-right corner, brushing Sá’s fingertips on its way in.

Half-Time Insights

As the first half drew to a close, the statistics painted a stark picture of the game dynamics: Manchester City completed an astonishing 218 final-third passes compared to Wolves’ mere five.

This stat emphasizes the host’ struggle against City’s seemingly insatiable attacking force, raising questions about whether such a defensive game plan could withstand the relentless play from the reigning champions.

Wolves Struggles

The second half began with Wolves looking to regain some initiative, but chances remained few and far between for the home side. Moments of relief for Wolves were scarce, with Matheus Cunha’s near-miss being one of the few highlights as his shot bent narrowly wide.

A Clutch Late Goal

With the clock ticking down, John Stones emerged as the unexpected hero. Rising above Wolves’ defense, he met a corner with a towering header that sent the ball crashing into the back of the net. This last-gasp goal snatched victory from the jaws of a stalemate and also left the Wolves players and fans devastated.

Despite their inability to secure a win, Wolverhampton Wanderers showed commendable defensive resilience and tactical discipline against one of the premier teams in Europe.

However, the defeat means they remain at the bottom of the league table, marking the first time since the 1980s that they have started a season without a victory in their first eight league games a statistic that surely weighs heavily on manager Gary O’Neil and his squad.