Manchester City returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Etihad Stadium. The match, however, was overshadowed by a contentious VAR decision that denied the visitors a potential penalty and sparked post-match debate.
The pivotal moment arrived in the first half when a delivery into the City box appeared to strike defender Yerson Mosquera on the arm. The video assistant referee recommended an on-field review, but the match official, making his Premier League debut, upheld his original call of no penalty after consulting the pitchside monitor. This rare instance of a referee sticking with his initial decision following a review became the game’s major talking point.
City’s manager expressed clear frustration after the final whistle, suggesting his team often faces an uphill battle with officiating decisions. He pointed to a recent incident in a derby defeat as further evidence and stressed the impact of a lengthy injury list on his squad’s ability to overcome such setbacks.
Wolves’ manager offered a contrasting view on the handball incident, stating the defender’s arm was in a natural running position and the contact was from close range. He praised the referee’s courage to trust his initial judgment on such a significant stage.
On the pitch, the home side showed a reaction after recent poor results, making five changes from their last outing. Notably, two star attackers were surprisingly omitted from the starting lineup, with their replacements making an immediate impact.
The breakthrough came from an unlikely source, as a low cross from the right was turned in by a forward scoring his first league goal in months. The lead was doubled before halftime when a clever through ball released another attacker, who cut inside his marker and finished calmly for his third goal in four appearances since his summer transfer.
Wolves improved after the interval following tactical substitutions, applying sustained pressure for the first time in the match. A promising young talent, instrumental in their recent resurgence, created several dangerous moments from a deeper midfield role, forcing a fine save from the City goalkeeper from a resulting corner.
Despite the improved second-half display from the visitors, City managed the game professionally to secure a vital three points, their first league win in nearly a month. For Wolves, the defeat halts a positive unbeaten run, though performances under their new manager continue to show signs of a promising rebuild as they battle to climb the table.