WOLVES 1, MANCHESTER CITY 3
Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden scored early to help Manchester City beat Wolves in a record breaking Premier League weekend.
Embed from Getty ImagesRaul Jimenez’ late goal gave Wolves a chance to upset Pep Guardiola’s injury-hit side but Gabriel Jesus’ injury time strike handed City their 10th consecutive opening day win in a row – a first in the Premier League era.
Guardiola had handed a debut to new defensive signing Nathan Ake, pairing him with John Stones, with his team’s options limited by injuries and coronavirus cases – with Ilkay Gundogan a late absentee.
City were well worth their first half lead as they started their Premier League campaign with a strong first half, creating several chances but only scoring twice.
De Bruyne’s earned and converted a penalty after a sumptuous pass by Foden put him through before he was brought down by Roman Saiss in the 19th minute.
Foden then put his summer troubles behind him when he got on the end of a classic cut back by Raheem Sterling to score a deserved second for City after 32 minutes.
Wolves had been disrupted by an early injury to new signing Marcal and missed a hatful of chances to reduce the deficit in the second half as City’s intensity dropped and Raul Jimenez’ late goal – their first and only shot on target – gave Wolves hope with 12 minutes to go.
But City held on, and Gabriel Jesus squeezed in a late goal to make sure of the win five minutes into injury time, squeezing in a third off Conor Coady after Kevin De Bruyne had won the ball off Willy Boly to get his campaign for Premier League assists off to an early start.
Jesus’ late strike was the 44th goal of the Premier League match round, surpassing the 43 scored in February 2011, and creating a new Premier League record for a 20-team season.
GOALS – Wolves 1, Manchester City 3
Wolves 0, Man City 1: 20. Kevin De Bruyne’s spot kick into the bottom right corner was too far away for Ru Patricio to reach.
Wolves 0, Man City 2: 32. Phil Foden finished from 12 yards after Raheem Sterling’s pull back towards the penalty spot after Kevin De Bruyne sent him clear.
Wolves 1, Man City 2: 78. Raul Jimenez headed home from a brilliant attacking move by Pedro Neto who nutmegged Kevin De Bruyne before whipping in a quick cross which Jimenez converted from close range.
Wolves 1, Man City 3: 90+5. Gabriel Jesus squeezed in a record breaking goal, his shot going in off Conor Coady after Kevin De Bruyne had won the ball off Willy Boly deep into injury time.
MATCH STATS – Wolves 1, Manchester City 3
Wolves: Patricio, Boly, Coady, Saiss, Traore, Neves, Moutinho (Dendoncker 78), Marcal (Vinagre 8), Podence, Jimenez, Neto (Silva 78)
Wolves subs not used: Ruddy, Ferreira, Kilman, Buur
Goal: Jimenez 78
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Ake, Mendy, Fernandinho, Rodri, Foden, De Bruyne, Sterling (Torres 82), Jesus
Man City subs not used: Steffen, Mahrez, Otamendi, Delap, Doyle, Bernabe
Booked: Jesus 35 (foul on Ruben Neves); Mendy 35 (foul on Adama Traore); Rodri (kicking the ball away 86)
Goals: De Bruyne pen 20; Foden 32; Jesus 90+5
Referee: Andre Marriner