Manchester City secures late win over Wolves

Manchester City narrowly avoided another slip-up in their Premier League campaign, securing a dramatic 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers deep into stoppage time. John Stones headed in a controversial winner from a corner, which required a lengthy VAR review, leaving Wolves and their fans frustrated at Molineux Stadium.

Winner stays after VAR review

The decisive moment came in the dying seconds of the match. Manchester City earned their 18th corner of the game, which was delivered perfectly onto the head of John Stones. The ball found the back of the net, but controversy arose as Bernardo Silva appeared to be in an offside position, standing directly in front of the Wolves’ goalkeeper. Referee Chris Kavanagh was called to the pitch-side monitor to review the incident. The key question was whether Silva’s positioning constituted “active” or “obstructive” offside. After closely reviewing the footage, Kavanagh ruled that the goal would stand, giving City a 2-1 lead. The decision sparked debate, but it ensured that City capitalized on Arsenal's earlier defeat at Bournemouth, which had opened the door for them to gain ground in the title race.

Wolves’ early surprise and City’s struggles

The match didn’t start well for the visitors, as Wolves took a surprising early lead. Former FC Groningen striker Jørgen Strand Larsen connected with a long cross during a counter-attack, slotting the ball home at the far post. City found themselves trailing 1-0 and facing a difficult challenge in a stadium where they had suffered defeat last season. Despite dominating possession—nearly 80 percent of it—and launching over 20 shots on goal, City struggled to break down Wolves’ defense. The home side, which had only managed a single point in its first seven league matches, put up a resilient fight, frustrating the reigning champions.

Gvardiol's equalizer and City’s relentless attack

Manchester City managed to equalize just after the half-hour mark through a moment of brilliance from Josko Gvardiol. The Croatian defender, keeping Nathan Aké on the bench despite his return to fitness, struck a beautiful goal that brought the visitors level. However, City’s attempts to create a decisive goal through open play fell short, as they were unable to convert their overwhelming control of the match into another goal. As the minutes ticked down, it looked as though Wolves would hold on for a valuable draw, doubling their points tally for the season. But City’s persistence in attacking set pieces ultimately paid off, with Stones’ late header deciding the outcome.

Title race

The victory was crucial for Manchester City, preventing them from dropping points for the third time in their last four Premier League matches. It also keeps the pressure on Liverpool, who must now secure a win against Chelsea to retain their position at the top of the table. For Pep Guardiola, the win offers some respite, but it highlights the ongoing challenges his team faces without the injured Rodri. City’s struggles to break down Wolves’ defense will be a point of concern as they look to maintain their momentum in the title race. Wolves, despite the loss, can take some solace in their improved performance against a top side. However, they remain in a difficult position near the bottom of the table and will need to build on this showing in the weeks to come.