Wolves 2-6 Chelsea. Noni Madueke’s hat-trick propelled Chelsea to their first Premier League win of the season in a thrilling and chaotic match against Wolves.
The game kicked off with a bang as Chelsea took the lead just 98 seconds in. Cole Palmer’s inswinging corner was inadvertently flicked on by Matheus Cunha, allowing an unmarked Nicolas Jackson to head in at the back post.
Jackson’s exuberant celebration ignited a fiery atmosphere at Molineux, and Wolves quickly responded. Rayan Ait-Nouri’s dazzling run set up Cunha, who leveled the score with a precise low finish from inside the box.
Chelsea regained their lead thanks to Palmer’s clever lob from 30 yards, catching Wolves’ goalkeeper Jose Sa off his line. However, Wolves equalized again just before halftime when Jorgen Strand Larsen poked in a rebound from a free-kick that had been squared back across goal.
The second half belonged to Madueke, who scored a hat-trick in just 14 minutes. All three of his goals were similar low-angled shots from inside the area, with Palmer providing the assists each time.
Joao Felix capped off Chelsea’s victory with a late goal, side-footing the ball into the net from near the penalty spot after being set up by substitute Pedro Neto, a former Wolves player.
The match was a captivating spectacle, especially in the first half, marked by rapid attacking play and numerous chances. Referee Darren England’s first card of the game didn’t come until after the 30-minute mark, which was surprising given the intensity and confrontations on display.
The match was further charged by an Instagram post from Madueke on Saturday night, which appeared to criticize Wolverhampton. The Molineux crowd’s reaction was loud and constant, but Madueke thrived under the pressure, scoring three superb goals—though his first was aided by a deflection that wrong-footed Sa.
Madueke has now scored more Premier League goals in Wolverhampton than at Stamford Bridge, with two goals in 18 games there. His view of the city might have changed after this impressive performance.
For the second consecutive match, Wolves fielded a team without an English player, and their lack of organization, especially in defense, was evident. Left-back Ait-Nouri struggled defensively, and the absence of former captain Max Kilman, now at West Ham, left a noticeable gap in Wolves’ defense.
Wolves boss Gary O’Neill lamented the team’s poor defensive performance. “We lost our way. The errors were unacceptable,” O’Neill told BBC Match of the Day. “When we concede goals like that, it makes the afternoon very difficult. We gave Chelsea too much help, and I have a lot to fix before the transfer window closes.”
source – BBC
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