Man United vs Wolves score, result, highlights as Varane goal gives Red Devils win after massive VAR controversy

Kyle Bonn

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Man United vs Wolves score, result, highlights as Varane goal gives Red Devils win after massive VAR controversy image

For much of the season-opening match at Old Trafford, Wolves had Manchester United doing plenty of soul searching, locking down the Red Devils' attack and creating chances of their own on the counter.

Yet the visitors couldn’t finish their chances to make United pay for their struggles, and in a tale as old as time, they would come to rue those mistakes.

Raphael Varane reversed Man United’s fortunes in one fell swoop, scoring the game’s only goal on 76 minutes, leading United to a nervy but hard-earned 1-0 victory, collecting all three points to open the campaign.

Matheus Cunha shredded the United midfield on multiple occasions, barreling down their throats over and over in transition. Yet he also had the game’s biggest miss, one of at least three chances Wolves should have put away. 

In truth, United should have been punished at the very end, but were let off the hook by a disastrous refereeing decision from Simon Hooper and his VAR, who decided not to award a penalty to Wolves deep in stoppage time.

In the end, Man United manager Erik ten Hag can breathe easy knowing his side escaped with all three points, but he clearly has more work to do if they are hoping to challenge for the Premier League title this season.

Man United vs Wolves final score

  Final Goal scorers
Man United 1 Raphael Varane (76')
Wolves 0 –

Lineups:

Man United (4-2-3-1, right to left): 24. Onana (GK) — 29. Wan-Bissaka, 19. Varane, 6. L. Martinez (Lindelof, 46'), 23. Shaw — 18. Casemiro, 7. Mount (Eriksen, 68') — 21. Antony (Pellistri, 78'), 8. Fernandes, 49. Garnacho (Sancho, 68') — 10. Rashford (McTominay, 87').

Wolves (4-4-1-1, right to left): 1. Sa (GK) — 22. Semedo, 15. Dawson, 23. Kilman, 3. Ait-Nouri (Bueno, 79') — 27. Nunes, 5. Lemina, 35. Gomes (Kalajdzic, 88'), 7. Neto — 21. Sarabia (Hwang, 63') — 12. Cunha (F. Silva, 79').

Man United vs Wolves live updates, highlights, commentary

Final: Man United 1-0 Wolves

It's hard to overstate how lucky Manchester United are to collect three points in this match. Not only were they let off the hook by a number of misses from Wolves in the final third, but Wolves absolutely should have won a penalty in stoppage time.

There's just no other way to put it other than a calamitous error from referee Simon Hooper and the VAR crew at Old Trafford. Goalkeeper Andre Onana clearly fouled Sasa Kalajdzic deep in stoppage time, but both Hooper and the VAR let it go.

The Red Devils were poor, but they secure the victory. Incredible drama, but you feel for Wolves players, coaches, and fans who will be flabbergasted how they have not come away from this game with any points.

90+6 min: CONTROVERSY! Oh my, Man United are in real trouble here. Andre Onana comes out to punch a delivery into the box, but comes nowhere close to the ball and instead pummels Kalajdzic right in the head. If that happens on the street outside the stadium, you'd be arrested for assault.

But somehow, INCREDIBLY, VAR does not recommend that Simon Hooper have a review! Gary O'Neil is livid, and rightly so, to be honest. It's a miserable mistake by VAR here, because that's a blatant foul. O'Neill is booked for his protests. Manchester United are incredibly lucky.

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In truth, they should have been punished, but were let off the hook by a disastrous refereeing decision from Simon Hooper and VAR not to award a penalty deep in stoppage time.

90+4 min: Hwang Hee-chan fires a shot just wide left having beaten Andre Onana but failing to hit the target.

The game has to be stopped in the middle of action as a fan runs onto the pitch. Moron. What a dope.

90th min: Chance, Wolves! Luke Shaw makes a big block on Fabio Silva! A whopping seven minutes of added time are awarded.

88th min: Erik ten Hag is shutting up shop, withdrawing Marcus Rashford in favour of Scott McTominay. Wolves counter with an opposite change, bringing on towering striker Sasa Kalajdzic.

83rd min: Fabio Silva has a hit from a very tight angle, but Andre Onana holds firm protecting his near post.

79th min: On the restart, both sides make changes. Facundo Pellistri replaces Antony for Man United, while Wolves bring on Hugo Bueno and Fabio Silva, as Matheus Cunha makes way.

76th min: GOAL! MAN UNITED! RAPHAEL VARANE BREAKS THE DEADLOCK! Man United finally put a long spell of pressure together, putting the Wolves back line under fire, and they've broken through! Aaron Wan-Bissaka crops up near the end line and pokes the ball over the Wolves defence right to Varane's head on the doorstep.

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72nd min: Chance, Wolves! Matheus Cunha again drives right down Manchester United's throat to create a big chance, but Pedro Neto shoots straight at Andre Onana with his left foot! Another big opportunity to make Manchester United pay goes begging!

68th min: Erik ten Hag makes a pair of substitutions, bringing on Jadon Sancho and Christian Eriksen. Curiously, he withdraws Alejandro Garnacho, who hasn't been exceptional, but he's been more involved than Antony who  has had very little impact on the game.

Pedro Neto gets a yellow card for jawing with a linesman about a throw-in decision.

63rd min: Wolves make their first change of the match, withdrawing Pablo Sarabia for Hee-Chan Hwang to give the visitors some fresh legs in the attack.

He's immediately fouled by Aaron Wan-Bissaka who gets a talking to from referee Simon Hooper. Likely that he'll be booked for another offence.

59th min: Bruno Fernandes, with his first bright moment of the game, springs Marcus Rashford down the left with a great ball forward. Rashford gets his cross in to Antony at the top of the six-yard box, but the Brazilian attempts to hit it first-time, and is put off by defensive pressure, unable to turn it on frame.

55th min: Chance, Wolves! For what feels like the 15th time in this game, Matheus Cunha drives straight through the Man United midfield on the ball, and he finishes it with a low shot on target, which Andre Onana stops but spills out for a corner.

53rd min: Jose Sa, again, comes off his line awkwardly, but gets away with it after the ensuing cross to the empty goal mouth isn't met by a Man United attacker and instead headed clear. Manchester United are showing more since the Cunha chance, and the Old Trafford crowd finally comes to life.

49th min: Chance, Wolves! THEY'VE MISSED AGAIN! MATHEUS CUNHA HAS JUST BOTCHED A SITTER! How has he not scored??? Wolves break down the right, and while the cross from Pablo Sarabia is behind the first man in front of net, it gets tapped to Cunha at the far post with Onana yet to come across. Somehow, some way, he only finds the post. It's a horrid miss!

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47th min: Wolves win a corner straight out of halftime as Andre Onana has to come across the end line and slap the ball away. The delivery is quality but Casemiro rises high to head it out of the 18-yard box.

46th min: Erik ten Hag has made a halftime change, with Victor Lindelof coming on for Lisandro Martinez following the break. Martinez was booked in the first half, and had a number of contentious challenges in addition.

Raphael Varane gives a very demonstrative talk in the huddle as the players take the pitch. There's a clear need for energy within this Red Devils eleven.

Halftime: Man United 0-0 Wolves

A truly awful first half saw these two teams combine for just one shot on target and 0.46 expected goals. Wolves will be much  happier with proceedings, as they had the two best chances of the half, but failed to put either on frame.

Manchester United grew into the game as the half dragged on, with Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho working hard, but the opening half-hour was extremely poor from Erik ten Hag's side. Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes struggled to make an impact on the game.

Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw being on yellow cards is worrying for the Red Devils, and Wolves midfielder Mario Lemina will also have to watch himself in the second half as he continues to shadow Bruno Fernandes.

45+2 min: Alejandro Garnacho feeds Marcus Rashford vertically, and after cutting onto his right he fires a shot that's blocked bravely by Max Kilman. It wins a corner, and the delivery is dangerous, but Raphael Varane gets really poor contact on the ball and his header is far from dangerous.

45th min: Following a long stretch of play, referee Simon Hooper tracks back to show a third yellow card of the game, this time to Luke Shaw for a bad tackle which warranted advantage to be played at the time. He joins Lisandro Martinez and Mario Lemina in the referee's book.

42nd min: Another shot fired across the face of goal wide, this time for Manchester United as Alejandro Garnacho has a go with a speculative effort that's blasted powerfully wide right. United starting to produce more pressure in the Wolves attacking third, but halftime is fast approaching.

38th min: Chance, Man United! There's a HUGE penalty shout by Manchester United waved away by Simon Hooper! Aaron Wan-Bissaka crosses to the head of Marcus Rashford, and his effort on goal hits the arm of Nelson Semedo, but his arm is right up next to his chest in a very natural position, and did not give the defender any advantage. Right call to let that one go, despite a massive appeal by Rashford.

37th min: There's another awkward moment for Jose Sa as a deflected cross by Luke Shaw is spilled into the middle of the penalty area, but the whistle goes for a foul as Alejandro Garnacho stretches to reach the loose ball.

Raayan Ait Nouri was booked for time wasting on a throw-in. It's a bit early for that.

33rd min: Chance, Wolves! Matheus Cunha now drags it wide! Just like Pablo Sarabia earlier, he crops up on a vertical run, this time shaded right, but his effort goes skittering harmlessly wide across the face of goal and outside the far post.

31st min: Manchester United need a lot more from their playmakers in the attacking third. They've put Wolves under very little pressure through the opening half-hour, with especially Bruno Fernandes showing nothing so far.

Matheus Cunha is on his rear and frustrated with Casemiro for a challenge, and he milks it demonstratively, but doesn't require treatment.

28th min: Mario Lemina is booked for bundling over Lisandro Martinez in midfield.

25th min: Chance, Wolves! The best chance of this match yet sees Pablo Sarabia fire just wide! Matheus Cunha drives forward across the halfway line, skipping over a poor Casemiro challenge and seeing Lisandro Martinez give way thanks to his earlier booking. Finally, at the top of the penalty area, he skids it left to Sarabia in support, but the shot is dragged across the face of goal just inches wide of the far post!

23rd min: "Chess match" would be one way to describe the first portion of this match. Each side seems to be trying things primarily to get the opponent to make a mistake. It hasn't worked so far. Manchester United have held 63 percent possession but have yet to produce a truly dangerous effort on goal.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka fouls Matheus Nunes to end a spell of Red Devils possession.

17th min: Lisandro Martinez picks up a truly brainless yellow card by fouling Pedro Neto way out on the touchline. Martinez came barreling in two-footed to not only earn an early caution but also concede a dangerous free-kick.

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16th min: Wolves doing a good job of hemming in the United attack by denying Bruno Fernandes the ball in dangerous areas. Fernandes has 10 touches so far, but only three in the attacking half.

11th min: Marcus Rashford tries to trouble the Wolves backline, and does, but Jose Sa comes well off his line to smother the shot from a tight angle. A bit nervy, with Sa so far in no man's land, but no harm done.

7th min: United are sitting back a bit to start the game, trying to let Wolves have some time on the ball in the hope that they'll come out of their otherwise very compact shape. Cagey start to this game as a result, as neither team looks terribly interested in attacking. Man United may eventually have to oblige.

Mason Mount wins the first corner of the game for Manchester United, and Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa spills the delivery, but the flag goes up as the ball appeared to have gone out of play before bending back in.

2nd min: Man United have a few icky giveaways in their own defensive third, with Bruno Fernandes one of the culprits, but Luke Shaw scrambles to end the chance before Wolves can make the most of it.

Some Manchester United club figures are spotted in the director's box at Old Trafford, including injured new signing Rasmus Hojlund, Darren Fletcher's kids (who signed for Man United's youth side this summer), and former defender Jonny Evans.

Kickoff

As this match gets underway, all 20 Premier League clubs have now taken the pitch for this season's league play! Both teams have a chance to make a statement of intent today.

Man United fans continue to voice their demonstrative opposition to the Glazer family ownership as the game kicks off.

Man United vs Wolves: Pre-match commentary, analysis, stats, and more

15 mins to kick: Sir Alex Ferguson graced the set of NBC Sports for the U.S. broadcast, and identified Erik ten Hag's influence over the squad and club as a positive for the club moving forward, which is quite the vote of confidence for the current boss.

30 mins to kick: Manchester United fans refuse to relent in the battle against the Glazers' ownership of the club. They're out protesting in full force as the new season gets underway.

45 mins to kick: Erik ten Hag told Sky Sports before tonight's game that Man United's goal this season is to take last season's results and use them as a springboard. "We have laid a foundation, and now we have to raise the bar," ten Hag said.

It still feels like there may be a bit of a gap between United and their rivals Man City, but they can use today's match to show they are for real and can threaten in the title race. They'll need a convincing victory to give that impression.

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1 hour to kick: Lineups are in, and as expected, it's Alejandro Garnacho to start on the left for Manchester United, with Jadon Sancho on the bench. Aaron Wan-Bissaka is also handed a start at right-back, with Diogo Dalot left out.

For Wolves, Rayan Ait-Nouri is preferred to Hugo Bueno at left-back, while Joao Gomes is chosen in midfield at the expense of young Joe Hodge and new arrival Boubacar Traore. Matheus Cunha proves fit to start as expected.

1 hour 15 mins to kick: For Wolves, today's season opener represents a significant test given the turmoil from this offseason, but also a real opportunity. One positive result here can, for a time at least, deliver a reprieve from the trepidation that many fans have over the coming campaign.

Between the departure of Ruben Neves and Raul Jimenez, the transfer struggles, the sudden exit for Julen Lopetegui, and the hurried arrival of Gary O'Neil, there's a lot to give fans pause. One early result, however, can shift the tone considerably.

1 hour 30 mins to kick: There is a growing belief amongst Man United reporters on social media that Alejandro Garnacho showed enough in preseason that he has earned an opening day start today at Old Trafford, ahead of Jadon Sancho.

It's a sign that Sancho has yet to earn his place in Manchester, but is also a nod to Garnacho for his performances not only this summer, but last year prior to his ankle injury. The young Argentine has been extremely bright for United and will get a chance to help cover for the injury miss for Rasmus Hojlund, with Marcus Rashford up front.

1 hour 45 mins to kick: Something for Erik ten Hag to keep in mind as the new season begins is the new rule for coaches in the technical area. The Premier League has informed clubs that referees will only allow one coach in the technical area at a time, and will be cracking down on those who do not follow suit.

Jurgen Klopp made light of the situation on Sunday, jokingly saying only Newcastle will have issue with the rule, but in truth ten Hag was also one to bring his assistants Steve McClaren and Mitchell van der Gaag into the technical area at times so he will have to be aware of the change.

2 hours to kickoff: Manchester United fans will have to wait a little longer for a look at new striker signing Rasmus Hojlund, who arrived at Man United with a slight back injury. Erik ten Hag warned it will "likely be a few weeks before we see him with his boots on" due to a preseason injury he carried over from his former club.

Fellow Denmarkvinternational Christian Eriksen played a role in Hojlund coming to Man United, but laughed that he wasn't exactly paid for his services!

Man United vs Wolves lineups, team news

Erik ten Hag's biggest call here is to choose between Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho on the left, and he goes with the latter, rewarding the young Argentine for a bright preseason. Garnacho seriously impressed both last season before his ankle injury, and returned to form in this summer's preseason tour. Ten Hag appears tempted to supplant Garnacho as the first-choice starter until Sancho changes his mind.

A slight back injury for new signing Rasmus Hojlund keeps him sidelined and forces Marcus Rashford to start the year up front. Young talents Amad Diallo and Kobbie Mainoo are both out for some time with long-term injuries picked up in preseason, while Tyrell Malacia misses out with a lingering knee issue.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka is preferred to Diogo Dalot at right-back to open the season. Anthony Martial missed all of preseason but is back in full training and makes the bench, as does backup goalkeeper Dean Henderson who shakes off a thigh problem.

Man United starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Onana (GK) — Wan-Bissaka, Varane, L. Martinez, Shaw — Casemiro, Mount — Antony, Fernandes, Garnacho — Rashford.

Man United subs (9): Henderson (GK), Lindelof, Maguire, Dalot, McTominay, Eriksen, Pellistri, Sancho, Martial.

A slight fitness issue faces big-money striker Matheus Cunha prior to this match, but it's thought he will prove ready to play. Otherwise, there are no injury problems for new manager Gary O'Neill to be concerned with.

Wolves look quite similar to the team that finished last season in 13th position, minus a few recognisable faces. Midfield lynchpin Ruben Neves has departed for Saudi Arabia, while Raul Jimenez sought out a change of scenery at Fulham, as did Conor Coady with Leicester City.

Nelson Semedo is the incumbent at right-back but could face competition from free-transfer addition Matt Doherty who returned from Atletico Madrid. Boubacar Traore was the Neves replacement in the summer window, with the 21-year-old arriving from French side Metz, but he starts on the bench, tabbed with beating out starter Joao Gomes and Irish youth international Joe Hodge.

Wolves starting lineup (4-4-1-1): Sa (GK) — Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Ait-Nouri — Nunes, Lemina, Gomes, Neto — Sarabia — Cunha.

Wolves subs (9): Bentley (GK), Toti, Doherty, Bueno, Traore, Hodge, Hwang, Silva, Kalajdzic.

Man United vs Wolves live stream, TV channel

  Date Kickoff time TV Streaming
USA Mon, Aug. 14 3 p.m. ET USA Network, Universo Fubo, Peacock, Telemundo Deportes, Universo NOW
Canada Mon, Aug. 14 3 p.m. ET  — Fubo Canada
UK Mon, Aug. 14 8 p.m. BST Sky Premier League, Sky Main Event Sky Go
Australia Tue, Aug. 15 5 a.m. AEST  — Optus Sport
India Tue, Aug. 15 12:30 a.m. IST  — Hotstar, JioTV
Hong Kong Tue, Aug. 15 3 a.m. HKT Now Premier League
(Ch. 620-621)		 Now E, Now Player
Malaysia Tue, Aug. 15 3 a.m. MYT  — Astro GO
Singapore Tue, Aug. 15 3 a.m. SGT  — StarHub TV+
New Zealand Tue, Aug. 15 7 a.m. NZST Sky Sport Premier League Sky Sport Now

UK: The match will be televised on Sky Sports and streamed on the Sky GO platform.

USA: Chelsea vs. Liverpool will be available on television via NBC's cable channel USA Network, with a Spanish language broadcast available on Universo. Both channels are available via Fubo. The match is also on NBC's streaming platform Peacock, as well as their Spanish language streaming platforms for Telemundo and Universo.

Canada: Every Premier League game this season is live streamed exclusively via Fubo in Canada.

Australia: Fans in Australia can stream every match live and on demand on Optus Sport.

India: Star Sports carries the Premier League and this match will be streamed on Hotstar and JioTV. 

Man United vs Wolves betting odds

Manchester United are understandably heavy favourites as they begin their 2023/24 season, at home against a team largely believed to be in the upcoming relegation scrap.

The Red Devils open their Premier League campaign at home for the third straight season, falling to Brighton last season at Old Trafford after having beaten Leeds United and Burnley the two previous years. Wolves began last season with defeat at Leeds, winning just one of their opening 10 league fixtures.

  Man United
win		 Draw Wolves
win		 Both teams
to score Y / N		 Over / Under
2.5 goals		 MUN
-1.5		 WOL
+1.5
BetMGM
(USA)		 -350 +475 +875 +100 / -140 -175 / +125 -130 -110
Sports
Interaction
(Canada)		 1.22 6.26 11.00 1.92 / 1.70 1.56 / 2.39 1.79 1.99
Top Betting Sites
(UK)		 2/7 9/2 17/2 20/21, 4/5 4/7, 13/10 — —
Unibet
(Australia)		 1.28 5.80 11.50 2.06 / 1.73 1.58 / 2.38 — —
Dafabet
(India)		 1.31 6.00 10.00 2.05 / 1.78 1.55 / 2.47 1.82 2.07

Kyle Bonn

Kyle Bonn Photo

Kyle Bonn, is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer, and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.