Wolves 2 Manchester United 1 – Report and pictures

In a first half of few chances Diogo Jota came closest but was denied by keeper Sergio Romero when through on goal.

Romero then produced a wonder-save to tip Raul Jimenez's header on to the bar shortly after half-time.

United had their chances but Wolves took charge through Jimenez's effort on the turn – and then Jota sealed it with a magical run and shot from halfway as Molineux went ballistic, with Wolves through to their first semi-final since 1998, despite Marcus Rashford's last-gasp consolation to make it 2-1.

Analysis

Smell it, taste it, drink it in – Wolverhampton Wanderers are back in the big time, writes Tim Spiers at Molineux.

This wonderful, historic club has been in the doldrums for decades. In the 1950s and 1970s they had one of the finest teams in the land – but since 1981 they've done absolutely naff all in the league and only reached a solitary, measly FA Cup semi-final.

Until now.

Fosun and Nuno Espirito Santo have changed everything. Their group of special players have delivered so many memorable days and nights in the past couple of years – but this 'pinch me' win topped the lot by the length of a Diogo Jota run from halfway.

This was the 100th meeting of these two grand old clubs – and from a Wolves perspective it was one of the best.

A game for the ages, an atmosphere comparable to nothing we've heard at Molineux for years and years.

The barbaric noise after the two goals was so ferocious it could have stripped the gold paint off this grand stadium. Wolves' disbelieving supporters screamed with all the horsepower of a jumbo jet until their lungs could take no more. And on the pitch Wolves lifted off.

Again it was the outstanding Jimenez and Jota who scored their goals, but this was a heroic team effort from back to front. They held off Rashford, Pogba, Martial & Co, Moutinho was at once terrier-like but at the same time a majestic magician who weaved his wand for the pivotal opening goal, brilliantly finished by Jimenez for his 15th of the season.

Molineux ate it up with a ladle. These are the days of their lives.

And now Wolves will plot a course for Wembley with a head full of dreams.

Match report

Romain Saiss got the nod over Ryan Bennett at centre half, with the Moroccan having impressed at Stamford Bridge last weekend when Bennett was suspended.

John Ruddy was again in goal, with Rui Patricio not in the squad.

Romelu Lukaku missed out for United but they were boosted by the return of Jesse Lingard from injury, as well as Ander Herrera, with Anthony Martial taking Lukaku's place up front alongside Marcus Rashford.

The pre-match build-up was as hyperbolic as it gets. The majority of the crowd were in their seats way before kick-off, there were shiny gold and black flags in two stands, blaring music, fire and a lights show.

Could anything live up to that? Well, the first half didn't, certainly not in terms of excitement or chances.

Wolves sat deep in the early stages, perhaps paying United too much respect. Matt Doherty and Jonny Castro Otto were full-backs instead of wing-backs, stood in a rigid line of five.

That meant United, for all their possession, couldn't carve out an opportunity, but equally with Wolves unwilling to commit many going forward they struggled to work their way up the pitch. Joao Moutinho punted the ball clear in the eighth minute and there was no one to chase it, as if Wolves were 1-0 up in the 95th minute.

But, as at Chelsea last week, Wolves were playing a game of patience.

It was cat and mouse, a game of chess. Like a Radiohead album in the 2000s it was interesting, intriguing, perhaps underwhelming at first – but you knew the more it went on it would become epic.

Marcus Rashford tested Ruddy with a swerving 30-yarder and then the magician Moutinho was the man to ease Wolves into the game in an attacking sense, playing a couple of delicious passes.

Wolves had to rely on Leander Dendoncker to produce a goal-saving interception from a short United corner, with Anthony Martial ready to tap home from close range.

Then a rabble-rousing intervention from captain Conor Coady got Wolves going. He intercepted in midfield and sprayed to Jonny, whose cross won a corner. From that Moutinho picked out Neves on the edge of the box and his first-timer was held by Sergio Romero.

Diogo Jota then latched on to Matt Doherty's cross but hit his volley into the ground, allowing Romero an easy save, before Jonny blocked a Diogo Dalot shot with his elbow in the penalty area. United screamed for a penalty but Jonny was shielding his body at the time and after a word with the VAR officials referee Martin Atkinson waved play on.

Wolves were starting to grow in confidence, committing more players forward, and just before half-time they could and perhaps should have taken the lead. Jonny won the ball back high up and Neves played a perfect through ball to the rampaging Jota – he was through on goal but credit to Romero who rushed off his line and blocked from about 15 yards out.

As in the first half, United started the second period on top but, aside from a driven Rashford shot that flashed wide of Ruddy's near post, they didn't unduly trouble Wolves.

At the other end the visitors were again indebted to Romero who produced a save even better than the one from Jota, extending his frame Superman-style to push Jimenez's free header onto the bar from a Moutinho corner.

With an hour on the clock you wondered if Wolves would rue those two good chances. Moutinho set about making them irrelevant with a curling 25-yarder that the pesky Romero tipped over.

United then tried to turn the screw with a dangerous spell of possession in the Wolves third. Again, Wolves held firm, with only Rashford getting a glimpse of goal but he mis-timed his shot.

The momentum then swung Wolves' way – and in decisive fashion.

The immaculate Moutinho wriggled his way into the box past two players and passed to Jimenez – he superbly kept possession despite being surrounded and, with his back to goal, squeezed a low shot into the corner from 10 yards. Molineux went feral – the scenes were as rabid as this stadium has witnessed for years.

United immediately swapped Herrera for Andreas Pereira and went on the attack. A free kick was blocked by a solid Wolves wall and the hosts looked to dig their trench.

And then came the moment that shook Molineux to its very core. Wolves broke via Jota, all on his own in the United half. He brushed aside a Shaw challenge, headed for the penalty and struck low and true past Romero with a fantastic finish to make it a scarcely believable 2-0. The noise was almost indescribable. Safe to say, no Wolves fan inside Molineux will ever forget that moment.

United tried to forge a way back into the game. Instead they were initially sent down to 10 men when Lindelof crashed through Jota. After a VAR delay it was overturned to a yellow.

The last few minutes were a procession as Wolves' supporters were allowed to enjoy a a famous, unforgettable win.

Rashford netted in the dying seconds but there was barely time for the restart.

"Que sera, sera" they sang in the stands. See you at Wembley in three weeks.

Key moments

43 - BIG CHANCE! Neves releases Jota through on goal. The Wolves striker is one-on-one with Romero, but the United man wins the battle as he races off his line and swats away the shot. Fine goalkeeping.

54 - WHAT A SAVE! A world-class stop from Romero prevents Wolves from taking the lead as he tips Jimenez's powerful header onto the crossbar at full stretch. The Mexican No.9 cannot believe he has not scored.

70 - GOOOOOALLLLLLL!!! Wolves make the breakthrough! Jimenez controls in the area with his back to goal and shoots on the swivel, and the ball flies into the net. Fantastic finish from the Mexican, sending Molineux crazy!

77 - GOOOOOOAAALLLLLLL!!! Wolves double their lead in sensational style! Jota spins past Shaw, leaving him on the deck, and fires past Romero in emphatic fashion. A special goal from the Portuguese forward!

82 - VAR! United defender Lindelof is shown a straight red card for a late sliding challenge on Jota - but is then allowed to stay on the pitch. The decision goes to VAR, and the card is downgraded to a yellow one.

90+5 - Goal! Rashford pulls one back for the visitors but, fortunately for Wolves, it is too little too late for the Red Devils! Nuno's side are heading to Wembley for an FA Cup semi-final!

Teams

Wolves (3-5-2): Ruddy; Saiss, Coady (c), Boly; Doherty, Dendoncker, Neves, Moutinho, Otto; Jimenez (Costa, 90), Jota (Traore, 87)

Subs not used: Norris (gk), Bennett, Vinagre, Gibbs-White, Cavaleiro

Goals: Jimenez (70), Jota (77)

Manchester United (4-3-3): Romero; Dalot, Lindelof, Smalling, Shaw; Matic (Mata, 87), Herrera (Pereira, 71), Pogba (c); Lingard (McTominay, 87), Rashford, Martial

Subs not used: De Gea (gk), Jones, Rojo, Fred

Goals: Rashford (90+5)

Attendance: 31,004 (4,685 Man United fans)

Referee: Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire)

Next up

After the international break Wolves travel to Burnley two weeks today, kick off 3pm.