Wolverhampton Wanderers Secure 2-1 Victory Over Manchester City

 Wolverhampton Wanderers Secure 2-1 Victory Over Manchester City

Hee-chan Hwang of Wolverhampton Wanderers (R) celebrates after scoring his team's second goal with Pedro Neto during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester City at Molineux on September 30, 2023 in Wolverhampton,(Image-Getty)

Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) pulled off an impressive 2-1 victory over Manchester City, ending City's perfect start to the Premier League season, which had seen them win six consecutive matches. The match featured a deflected own goal by Ruben Dias, a stunning free-kick by Julian Alvarez, and a decisive goal by Hwang Hee-chan.

The game got off to a dramatic start with boos for former Wolves player Matheus Nunes, who returned to his former club less than a month after joining Manchester City. In the early minutes, Nunes nearly set up a goal with a clever pass, but it was well-defended by Wolves.

The first half established a pattern with City dominating possession and Wolves relying on counter-attacks led by wingers Pedro Neto and Hwang. Despite their limited chances, Wolves managed to take the lead in the 13th minute when a low cross from Neto deflected off Dias into City's net.

City continued to control possession, but Wolves' solid defense and strategic use of counter-attacks kept them at bay. The first half concluded with Wolves in the lead despite having only one off-target attempt.

In the second half, Julian Alvarez scored a magnificent free-kick, equalizing for Manchester City in the 56th minute. City came close to taking the lead with several opportunities, but Wolves' goalkeeper Jose Sa and their defense held firm.

However, Wolves delivered a counter-attack that led to Hwang Hee-chan smashing in the winning goal. Despite City's efforts to equalize, Wolves' defense remained resilient, with center-back Craig Dawson ensuring limited opportunities for City's top scorer, Erling Haaland.

City, although pushing hard during six minutes of injury time, was unable to find an equalizer. The result marked the end of City's bid for a seventh successive win at the start of the season.

Julian Alvarez's performance in free-kick situations was highlighted, with his goal showcasing his accuracy and skill. City remains at the top of the Premier League table, but the top six teams are separated by just three points.

Pep Guardiola, City's manager, acknowledged Wolves' deserving win, recognizing that they played exceptionally well. He emphasized the importance of accepting the opponent's speed and agility in transitions.

The next fixture for Manchester City is in the Champions League against RB Leipzig, followed by a Premier League clash with Arsenal before an international break.