Manchester United’s ongoing struggle with set-piece defense was glaringly evident once again as Matheus Cunha scored directly from a corner, marking the second such occurrence in just three matches.
The pivotal moment came during a match at Molineux where Wolves managed to climb out of the relegation zone with a 2-0 win over United. The task was already daunting for United following the red card shown to their captain, Bruno Fernandes, in the 47th minute for a second bookable offense.
The scenario eerily mirrored Tottenham’s recent success against United, where Son Heung-min also scored from a corner, highlighting a persistent defensive vulnerability. The decisive goal by Cunha bypassed goalkeeper Andre Onana, who was unable to reach the ball amidst a crowded penalty area.
Wolves then sealed the match in stoppage time with Cunha setting up Hwang Hee-chan for a comfortable 2-0 lead.
Ruben Amorim’s tenure at Manchester United has been marked by defensive lapses, particularly from set pieces, with teams like Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, and Bournemouth previously exploiting this weakness in a series of five losses from seven games across all competitions.
While Amorim has managed to secure seven points from his six league games, the contrast is stark with Wolves’ new manager, Vitor Pereira, who has quickly amassed six points from his first two matches, including this significant victory over United.
The defeat leaves United without Fernandes and midfielder Manuel Ugarte for their upcoming match against Newcastle on December 30, due to suspensions, exacerbating their challenges ahead.
