WOLVES SEALED AN FA Cup semi-final spot as goals from Raul Jimenez and Diogo Jota saw off Manchester United 2-1 at Molineux.
It is the first time Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have reached the last four of the competition since 1997-98 and they thoroughly deserved their victory over an insipid United team.
Jimenez fired home inside a crowded area after 70 minutes before Jota turned Luke Shaw inside out to add a second six minutes later and put the game beyond United.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side – who had won nine away games in a row before last weekend’s Premier League defeat to Arsenal – did find a late consolation through Marcus Rashford but can have no complaints with the result.
Paul Pogba clipped wide and Marcus Rashford tested John Ruddy from distance as the hosts comfortably kept United at bay during a tepid opening half hour.
Shortly before the interval, Sergio Romero was out quickly to paw away a clean-through Jota’s effort after Wolves had countered quickly from a United corner.
Rashford blazed wide within a minute of the restart before Romero superbly tipped Jimenez’s header onto the crossbar.
The Argentina international was called into action again shortly before the hour mark, tipping over Joao Moutinho’s deflected effort after a period of intense Wolves pressure.
That pressure finally told 20 minutes from time when Jimenez swivelled among a posse of United players in the penalty area and sent a half-volley past Romero.
Another sharp Wolves counter-attack resulted in the second soon after as Jota left Shaw in a heap on the floor and drilled a low effort past Romero, who will feel that he should have done better.
A late red card for Victor Lindelof was overturned by VAR, which decided his foul on Jota was only worth a yellow card, before Rashford collected Shaw’s cross and buried it into the bottom corner with almost the last kick of the game.
However, it proved too little, too late for a United side who were well beaten by their less illustrious Premier League opponents.
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That’s some half backline UCC have, intercounty standard! Maybe a bit light in the forwards with conway being the only standout name. But hopefully they will get a few more big names back from defeated clubs after this weekend.
Hope UCC win the cork championship, to highlight how crazy it is that they can compete.
@Gareth Ward: not a bad sub tipp senior mark kehoe
@Gareth Ward: “but hopefully they will get a few big names back”. Is that because they were playing with their clubs and not available tonight? Can you see how stupid your comment is when you look at it like that! UCC bring nothing to the Cork SHC. Amend the rules now so that students at the start of the season have to declare for their club or college. But can’t play with both. Let’s see how many Paddy Cadells /Paddy O’Loughlins they have then.
@Johnny B: Read my comment again and you’ll understand son. That is exactly what i mean. As i said i do hope they win it to highlight how crazy it is that they can take part.
I don’t particularly care what they add to the cork championship, which is why i want them to win!
@Gareth Ward: apologies. Twas late when I read your comment (and was after a few pints). Didn’t read it properly. Apologies again.
@Johnny B: Apparently they can get back montgomery from from waterford. And bill sheehan from dicksboro can play as well when he’s available. Assuming mark kehoe will start in the next game, they’ll have quiet a strong forward unit built up then!