Seoul Gazette - Wolves inflict Man City's first Premier League defeat

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Wolves inflict Man City's first Premier League defeat

SPORTS 30.09.2023

Wolves inflict Man City's first Premier League defeat / Photo: © AFP

Manchester City's perfect start to the Premier League season came to an end in a shock 2-1 loss to Wolves on Saturday.

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Wolves had taken just four points from their first six games, but stunned the champions at Molineux thanks to Hwang Hee-chan's winner.

Ruben Dias' own goal got the home side off the perfect start.

Julian Alvarez's free-kick levelled for City just before the hour mark.

However, the visitors missed the presence of the suspended Rodri as Wolves were a constant threat on the counter-attack and got their reward 24 minutes from time.

Hwang's first effort was blocked by Dias, but the Korean made the most of his second chance when Matheus Cunha laid the loose ball back into his path.

City boss Pep Guardiola had to watch from the stands after picking up three yellow cards for his behaviour on the touchline in the early weeks of the season.

Guardiola will have been unimpressed by his side's showing as a number of key absentees through injury and suspension finally caught up with City.

Mateo Kovacic was deputising for Rodri in midfield and his loose pass hit Phil Foden which allowed Pedro Neto to seize on the mistake and tear past Nathan Ake.

The Portuguese winger powered his way down the right and his low cross was deflected by his compatriot Dias past Ederson from close range.

Guardiola responded by substituting Matheus Nunes on his return to Molineux at half-time for Oscar Bobb.

The 20-year-old won the free-kick from which Alvarez brilliantly found the top corner.

But City's momentum was quickly halted when Hwang swept home his fifth Premier League goal of the season.

Only Erling Haaland has scored more so far this campaign but the Norwegian was kept quiet as City struggled to breakthrough the mass ranks of the Wolves defence.

The chances that did come to the treble winners fell to the wrong men as Kalvin Phillips curled wide and Kyle Walker shot straight at Jose Sa.

Defeat could see City lose top spot by the end of Saturday should Liverpool win at Tottenham.

And it ramps up the pressure on City's trip to Arsenal next weekend with the Gunners now just one point behind their title rivals.

A.Byun--SG