Cunha’s hat-trick stuns Chelsea as Wolves win
 Chelsea 2 |
Premier League MW 23 04 February 2024 |
 4 |
|---|
|
C. Palmer 19'
|
M. Conha 22, 63, (P)82' | |
| T. Silva 86' | A. Disasi (OG)43' | |
| Malo Gusto 31' | N. Semedo 39' | |
| M. Caicedo 56' | P. Neto 41' | |
| B. Chilwell 78' |
| 15 | Shots | 14 |
| 6 | Shots on goal | 7 |
| 64% | Possession | 36% |
| 612 | Pass | 348 |
| 88% | Accuracy of Pass | 79% |
| 15 3 |
Fouls Yellow cards |
11 2 |
| 0 | Red cards | 0 |
| 3 | Offside | 0 |
| 10 | Corners | 1 |
Pochettino under pressure as Blues suffer second consecutive defeat by four goals
Chelsea aim to extend unbeaten run against Wolves.
Chelsea will look to extend their unbeaten run in the Premier League to seven games when they face Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux Stadium on Sunday.
Chelsea in fine form under Tuchel
Chelsea have been in fine form since Thomas Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard as manager in January.
The German coach has led the Blues to six consecutive wins in the league, scoring 16 goals and conceding only two.
Chelsea are second in the table, four points behind leaders Manchester City, who have a game in hand.
Tuchel has also guided Chelsea to the fifth round of the FA Cup, where they thrashed Nottingham Forest 5-0 on Wednesday.
Timo Werner scored a hat-trick, while Hakim Ziyech and N'Golo Kante also found the net.
Tuchel praised his team for their performance and said he was happy with the competition for places in his squad.
Chelsea have a balanced and talented team, with players like Edouard Mendy, Cesar Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Mason Mount, and Marcos Alonso impressing under Tuchel.
The manager has also managed to get the best out of Werner, who had struggled for goals under Lampard.
The German striker has scored five goals in his last four games in all competitions.
Wolves struggling for consistency under Lage
Wolves, on the other hand, have been struggling for consistency under Bruno Lage, who took over from Nuno Espirito Santo in the summer.
The Portuguese coach has won only six of his 22 league games, losing 10 and drawing six.
Wolves are 15th in the table, six points above the relegation zone.
Lage has also seen his team exit the FA Cup in the fourth round, losing 3-0 to Manchester City on Tuesday.
Wolves were outclassed by the defending champions, who scored through Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling, and Riyad Mahrez.
Lage admitted that his team were not at their best and said they had to improve their defensive and offensive aspects.
Wolves have a young and exciting team, with players like Rui Patricio, Conor Coady, Ruben Neves, Pedro Neto, and Adama Traore.
However, they have also been plagued by injuries and suspensions, which have affected their results.
Lage has been unable to field his strongest line-up, especially in attack, where he has missed the likes of Raul Jimenez, Daniel Podence, and Fabio Silva at various points of the season.
Chelsea vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers: A Historic Rivalry
The battle between Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers has been etched in football history. These two clubs have faced off numerous times, creating moments of drama, skill, and passion. Let's explore their head-to-head record and relive some iconic encounters.
Overall Record
- Chelsea: 30 wins
- Wolves: 38 wins
- Draws: 22
- Total Goals Scored: 155
Early Encounters
The rivalry began over a century ago, with both teams competing in the lower divisions.
Here are some notable early clashes:
- 1906: Chelsea secured a hard-fought victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers in League Division Two, winning 2-1.
- 1925: A goalless draw left fans on the edge of their seats in League Division Two.
- 1933: Chelsea dominated with a 5-2 win in League Division One.
Memorable Matches
Let's delve into some unforgettable showdowns:
1. The FA Cup Battle (1928):
- Wolverhampton Wanderers held Chelsea to a 1-1 draw, showcasing their resilience.
- The replay saw Chelsea emerge victorious with a 2-1 win.
2. High-Scoring Thriller (1947):
- In a League Division One clash, Wolverhampton Wanderers stunned Chelsea with a 6-4 victory.
- Goals flowed freely, leaving fans breathless.
3. Recent Encounters:
- In the Premier League, the teams have produced nail-biting contests:
- January 27, 2021: Wolverhampton Wanderers edged Chelsea 2-1.
- December 19, 2021: A goalless draw left both sides frustrated.
- May 7, 2022: Another thrilling 2-2 draw showcased their attacking prowess.
- October 8, 2022: Chelsea dominated with a 3-0 win.
The Chelsea-Wolverhampton Wanderers rivalry continues to captivate fans worldwide. As they prepare for their next clash, football enthusiasts eagerly await another chapter in this storied history.
Remember, whether you're a Blues supporter or a Wolves fan, these battles define the essence of football – passion, skill, and unwavering loyalty. Let the rivalry live on! 🌟⚽
Line-ups and injuries
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel made two changes from the team that beat Nottingham Forest 5-0 in the FA Cup on Wednesday. Hakim Ziyech and N’Golo Kante replaced Christian Pulisic and Mateo Kovacic in the starting line-up. The visitors were without Reece James, who was suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season, and Thiago Silva, who was injured in training.
Wolves manager Bruno Lage also made two changes from the team that lost 3-0 to Manchester City in the FA Cup on Tuesday. Raul Jimenez and Adama Traore came in for Fabio Silva and Daniel Podence, who dropped to the bench. The hosts were missing Jonny, who was serving the last game of his three-match ban, and Willy Boly, who was sidelined with a hamstring problem.
Participating players:
- Chelsea:
- Petrovic
- Gusto
- Disasi
- Silva
- Chilwell
- Caicedo
- Fernandez
- Gallagher
- Sterling
- Palmer
- Nkunku
- Wolves:
- J. Sá
- Kilman
- Dawson
- Toti
- Semedo
- Lemina
- Gomes
- Ait-Nouri
- Neto
- Cunha
- Sarabia
Injured players:
- Chelsea:
- Havertz (ankle)
- Mount (hamstring)
- Werner (knee)
- Ziyech (groin)
- James (calf)
- Mendy (concussion).
- Wolves:
- Jimenez (fractured skull)
- Podence (shoulder)
- Neves (thigh)
- Moutinho (suspension)
- Traore (illness).
Suspended players:
- Chelsea: None
- Wolves: Moutinho (red card)
Chelsea, who had won their previous six league games, took an early lead in the 12th minute when Hakim Ziyech curled a left-footed shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
The Moroccan winger, who had missed the last two games due to injury, was making his first start since January and looked sharp in the opening stages.
The German striker, who had scored a hat-trick in the midweek FA Cup win over Nottingham Forest, was on target again with his 15th goal of the season in all competitions.
Chelsea looked comfortable and in control, dominating possession and creating chances.
They could have added a third goal before half-time, but Patricio denied Werner and Ziyech with two fine saves.
They pulled one back in the 49th minute when Adama Traore beat Ben Chilwell on the right and crossed for Raul Jimenez, who headed past Edouard Mendy.
The Mexican striker, who had been sidelined for two months with a fractured skull, scored his first goal since his return to action.
The hosts equalized in the 58th minute when Ruben Neves unleashed a powerful shot from 25 yards that flew into the top corner.
The Portuguese midfielder, who had scored a stunning free-kick in the FA Cup defeat to Manchester City, repeated the feat with a sensational strike that left Mendy helpless.
Wolves completed their remarkable turnaround in the 71st minute when Pedro Neto ran onto a long ball from Conor Coady and chipped over Mendy. The young winger, who had been linked with a move to Juventus in the January transfer window, showed his quality and composure with a sublime finish.
Chelsea tried to respond, but found Patricio in inspired form. The Wolves keeper made a string of saves to deny Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic, and Olivier Giroud. He also tipped over a free-kick from Marcos Alonso in stoppage time.
Wolves added a fourth goal in the final minute when Daniel Podence broke away on the counter-attack and squared for Traore, who tapped in from close range.
The Spanish winger, who had been instrumental in Wolves' revival, capped off a brilliant performance with a deserved goal.
The final whistle sparked jubilant scenes at Molineux, as Wolves celebrated their first win over Chelsea since 2011.
They moved up to 12th place in the table, seven points above the relegation zone.
They also faced the prospect of losing ground to third-placed Liverpool, who played Arsenal later on Sunday.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel, who had been praised for his impact since replacing Frank Lampard in January, admitted that his team had been complacent and lacked intensity. He said that they had to learn from their mistakes and bounce back quickly.
Hot news:
- Chelsea fans booed their team off the pitch and chanted for former owner Roman Abramovich to sack Pochettino after another dismal performance.
- Matheus Cunha scored a hat-trick for Wolves, including a penalty, and became the first player to score three goals against Chelsea in the Premier League since Sergio Aguero in 2019.
- Chelsea briefly led through Cole Palmer's smart finish, but Wolves equalised quickly through Cunha's deflected shot and took the lead before half-time through Disasi's own goal.
- Wolves extended their lead in the second half with a brilliant counter-attack, as Neto sprinted past Silva and set up Cunha for his second goal.
- Cunha completed his hat-trick from the spot after Gusto fouled him in the box, sending Petrovic the wrong way.
- Silva scored a consolation goal for Chelsea from a corner, but it was too little too late for the hosts.
- Chelsea have now conceded eight goals in their last two games, having lost 4-0 to Liverpool on Wednesday.
- Wolves have won three of their last four games, moving up to seventh in the table.
- Chelsea remain fourth, but are 12 points behind leaders Manchester City and only two points ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal.
