Wolves shock Man United to reach FA Cup semis
United lacked spark throughout and were overcome by an eager Wolves side with two goals in the space of six minutes in the second half from Raul Jimenez and Diogo Jota.
Marcus Rashford’s injury-time effort was a mere consolation.
Solskjaer had presided over a run of just two defeats in 18 games since replacing Jose Mourinho in December, progressing to the quarter-finals of the Champions League and the last eight of the FA Cup.
But now they have suffered two losses in a row after their Champions League exertions at Paris Saint-Germain.
United were favourites but the Midlanders’ form against the top six that has carried them to seventh position in the Premier League gave home fans hope.
The early signs were that United, not Wolves, were going to live up to the hype of the warm-up, dominating early possession.
The visitors created the first opening when Paul Pogba gained a yard of space in the box and curled wide.
Goalkeeper John Ruddy was happy to let the ball drift away but was forced to make a falling save to his left soon afterwards when Rashford let fly from 30 yards.
Wolves’ first threat came in the 28th minute when Ruben Neves’s low drive was well held by the United goalkeeper Sergio Romero and it was swiftly followed by a better one, Jota failing to connect properly with a volley from Matt Doherty’s centre.
United players surrounded referee Martin Atkinson screaming for a penalty in the 37th minute after Diogo Dalot’s hooked shot hit the elbow of Jonny as he turned his back on the ball. But Atkinson was unmoved.
The best chance of the half fell to Wolves, two minutes before the break. Neves sent Jota galloping clear for a one-on-one with Romero, but the United goalkeeper beat his curling shot away.
United had the first opening of the second half when Rashford got away from Conor Coady on the right side of the box but could only whistle a fierce angled drive a few feet wide.
Wolves replied with a rising, diagonal effort from Jimenez that looped comfortably over the bar.
– Romero saves –
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side were gaining in confidence however and created two chances that required some superb goalkeeping from Romero.