Two late Adama Traore strikes saw Wolverhampton Wanderers sink an under-par Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The reigning champions struggled all day to create any real opportunities but it initially looked like one of those day for Nuno Espirito Santo’s troops as they wasted numerous chances to win. However, Traore then had his say as he twice stayed cool in the closing ten minutes to condemn City to their first home defeat since December and leave them eight points adrift of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table.
Visitors miss crucial chances
Wolves actually had a wonderful opportunity to claim a shock lead early on at the Etihad as Joao Moutinho played through Patrick Cutrone one-on-one. Faced with only Ederson, the former AC Milan man somehow put the ball wide.
It took Guardiola’s men a while to carve out their first real opportunity despite enjoying the majority of possession. Joao Cancelo picked out Riyad Mahrez, with the Algerian’s fierce half-volley then being headed away by Conor Coady.
The visitors then missed yet more chances to open the scoring as sloppy play gifted Raul Jimenez an opportunity but Fernandinho got a block to his effort. The Brazilian then repeated the trick as the rebound fell to Cutrone.
Manchester City regroup
It also took the reigning champions a while to get going after the break and Guardiola opted to make a change as Mahrez came off in place of Bernardo Silva. It almost had the desired effect straight away as David Silva slammed a free-kick off of the crossbar, before the Spaniard also went close with a half-volley.
Another substitute, Gabriel Jesus, then could have played his part in a City opener as he released Cancelo down the right-flank, with the Portuguese finding compatriot Bernardo Silva. He struck for goal, only for the ball to hit Sergio Aguero on the goal-line and deflect away.
Traore gives Wolves deserved lead
Just as the hosts were looking more and more likely of striking a late winner, it was actually Wolves who edged ahead. More loose play from the hosts saw Jimenez gifted the ball and the Mexican powered down the left and skipped past Nicolas Otamendi. He then slipped a brilliant pass to Traore who stayed ice cold to tuck the ball past Ederson and silence the Etihad.
The Spaniard then got another one in the dying moments of the match and it was very similar to the first. With City pressing for an equaliser, he was slipped in behind the defence and coolly stroked the ball in to the bottom corner to earn a massive win for Wolves.
Final Thoughts
This really is not a City performance that Guardiola will want to become accustomed to. The champions really struggled against Wolves throughout the afternoon and did not really deserve to get anything from the game as they fall further behind in the Premier League title race. Wolves have to take huge credit though. They were the better side all afternoon. Nuno’s troops weathered the storm when they had to and were clinical when it mattered most. They now rise to 11th in the Premier League table.
Match Report
Manchester City: Ederson (6); Cancelo (6), Fernandinho (5), Otamendi (4), Walker (6) (Zinchenko (6), 46′); Silva (6) (Jesus (6), 75′), Rodri (6), Gundogan (5); Sterling (6), Aguero (5), Mahrez (5) (B. Silva (6), 60′).
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Patricio (7); Saiss (N/A) (Bennett (7), 13′), Coady (7), Boly (8); Vinagre (7) (Jonny (6), 75′), Moutinho (7), Neves (6), Dendoncker (7), Traore (9); Cutrone (6) (Doherty (6), 70′), Jimenez (7).
Goals: Traore (80′, 90+5′)
Referee: Craig Pawson
Yellow Cards: Cancelo (50′), Rodri (50′), Ederson (62′), Gundogan (71′), Fernandinho (76′), Neves (84′), Moutinho (86′)
Red Cards: N/A
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