Man Utd held to a draw by Wolves: Zirkzee scores and VAR drama unfolds in the 90th minute.

Old Trafford witnessed a night of contrasting emotions, from soaring hope to utter disappointment. On a day ravaged by injuries, Ruben Amorim's Manchester United were unable to overcome a resilient Wolverhampton Wanderers side, settling for a bitter 1-1 draw.

The patchwork and efforts of Joshua Zirkzee

Entering the match against a bottom-of-the-table opponent, Manchester United were expected to easily secure all three points. However, reality proved much harsher. Coach Ruben Amorim was forced to field an unfamiliar lineup, featuring young goalkeeper Senne Lammens and defender Ayden Heaven, due to a lengthy injury list. The absence of key players caused the "Red Devils'" play to become disjointed in the opening minutes of the match.

Despite dominating possession, Manchester United had to wait until the 27th minute to find the back of the net. Joshua Zirkzee, the striker under immense pressure from the public, shone at the crucial moment. After a scramble in front of the penalty area, his left-footed shot deflected off Ladislav Krejci, leaving goalkeeper Jose Sa completely helpless. The goal not only opened the scoring but also ended the Dutch striker's long goal drought.

A cold shower at the end of the first half.

It seemed as though Man Utd's lead would allow them to control the game, but Wolves proved why they can trouble any big team when backed into a corner. The visitors surged forward strongly towards the end of the first half, taking full advantage of the home team's lack of concentration in defense.

In the 45th minute, from a corner kick on the right wing taken by Hugo Bueno, Joshua Zirkzee, in an attempt to defend, inadvertently headed the ball backward, creating an opportunity for the opponent. Ladislav Krejci, who had previously scored an indirect own goal, immediately redeemed himself with a powerful header into the bottom corner, leveling the score at 1-1 for Wolves.

The obsession with VAR and Jose Sa

In the second half, Manchester United maintained relentless pressure. Ruben Amorim made tactical changes, bringing on young talent Jack Fletcher to increase the team's attacking threat. Numerous opportunities were created for Benjamin Sesko and Diogo Dalot, but they were both met with a formidable wall in Jose Sa. The Wolves goalkeeper had a phenomenal performance with a series of incredible saves.

The real drama erupted in the 90th minute. Old Trafford erupted as Patrick Dorgu tapped the ball into the net from close range after a sharp combination with Casemiro and Sesko. However, the joy was short-lived. After consulting VAR, the referee determined that Dorgu was offside. The goal was disallowed, much to the astonishment of the Red Devils fans.

Fletcher's late efforts in the fourth minute of added time couldn't change the outcome. This draw shows that Man Utd still have a long way to go to stabilize their playing style under the new manager, especially with a severely depleted squad.

Match statistics Manchester United vs Wolves