Wolves 1-2 Man City: John Stones Saves the Day in Last-Minute Drama at Molineux
John Stones is quickly becoming Pep Guardiola’s secret weapon in critical moments. His knack for stepping up when it counts was on full display as Manchester City snatched a late 2-1 victory over Wolves, thanks to Stones’ game-winning header.
Already hailed for his last-gasp goal against Arsenal earlier in the season, Stones added another chapter to his growing legend with a crucial intervention at Molineux. In a dramatic and hard-fought 90 minutes, Stones’ header from a perfectly placed Phil Foden corner delivered three points for City. But controversy still hangs over the decision not to flag his goal for offside—a debate that will echo through the Black Country for some time.
Wolves, managed by Gary O’Neil, executed a nearly flawless defensive plan, frustrating City for much of the match. However, Stones’ decisive header shattered their resistance, with Foden’s delivery standing as a masterclass in corner-taking. Though it’s only October, the victory felt significant, especially with Arsenal dropping points against Bournemouth.
Reflecting on the victory, Guardiola couldn’t resist a sly jab at his rivals, saying, “We’re not used to winning games at the end, unlike Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.” He acknowledged Wolves’ deep defensive approach: “They had 11 players in the 18-yard box, which made it difficult. We lost here last season, but this time we kept our composure. Wolves were less active today, but I saw them against Liverpool and Chelsea, and they had their moments.”
City’s resilience was clear, especially after falling behind early in the game. Wolves, still stinging from their 5-0 loss to Brentford, were determined to avoid another embarrassment. Their strategy was simple but effective—strike with intent on the break.
Wolves opened the scoring in the first half with a well-executed move. Santiago Bueno broke down the field and fed Nelson Semedo, whose inch-perfect cross found Strand Larsen. With Rico Lewis out of position, Larsen took advantage and coolly slotted the ball into the net, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
From that point on, the match turned into a tactical chess game. Wolves dropped deep, content to let City dominate possession, as the visitors piled on the pressure. In fact, City completed a staggering 278 passes in the first half alone—more than any team has managed in a single half since 2021. Wolves retreated so far into their own box that their goalkeeper, Jose Sa, was practically playing alongside center-back Craig Dawson.
City’s persistence paid off just past the half-hour mark. Defender Josko Gvardiol found space just outside the box and curled a shot into the net, despite a desperate attempt by Sa to keep it out. From then on, it was only a matter of time before City completed their comeback.
Wolves held firm for most of the match, with Sa making key saves to deny Savinho, Gvardiol, and substitute Jack Grealish. But in the end, they couldn’t withstand City’s relentless pressure. Guardiola summed it up perfectly, saying, “There’s no team in the world that doesn’t love scoring in the last 50 seconds to go top of the league.”
As for the offside controversy surrounding Stones’ winner, that debate will likely continue. But there’s no questioning the importance of his goal, which capped off another dramatic day for the reigning champions.
