25.9 C
Accra
Monday, December 23, 2024
SportsWolves get winning start after Jimenez strikes late

Date:

Wolves get winning start after Jimenez strikes late

In a tough Carabao Cup match against League Two strugglers Gillingham, goals from substitutes Raul Jimenez and Rayan Ait-Nouri gave Julen Lopetegui’s Wolves team a victory to start his tenure as manager.

Ait-Nouri sealed a 2-0 victory and a quarterfinal spot in extra time before Jimenez, playing in his first club match since August, broke the tie with a 77th-minute penalty at Molineux.

Wolves dominated the game but lacked bite against the Gills, who showed incredible tenacity despite being towards the bottom of the English Football League.

Against Everton on Boxing Day, Lopetegui made an intriguing start to his quest to help Wolves climb out of the Premier League’s basement.

Jose Sa and Ruben Neves, two of Wolves’ five World Cup players, were on his first team.

Jimenez, Hwang Hee-chan, and Matheus Nunes were the other three athletes who competed in Qatar, and they all had supporting roles.

Wolves controlled possession during the first 30 minutes, but the visitors sat back to take the pressure.

Goalkeeper Jake Turner was not put to the test despite blocked shots from Diego Costa, Joe Hodge, and Neves.

When the Gills got a corner on one infrequent excursion forward, their supporters cheered as though they were celebrating a goal while the team itself struggled to leave their own half.

In the later stages of the first half, Wolves picked up the pace and came near when Neves curled a free-kick just wide before Daniel Podence and Hodge were denied in a melee in front of goal.

More frequently, Podence started to worry the Gills and test Turner from a distance. After being brought down in the area, he then demanded a penalty. However, the game continued, and Hodge was superbly set up at the back post to score.

After a deft run and dummy by Podence at a corner, Wolves came even closer when Neves smashed a shot against the post with the final kick of the first half.

The break came just in time for Gillingham after that burst of activity and gave them a chance to reorganize.

The second half continued the first’s theme of Wolves being continuously disappointed in the final third.

Finally, the visitors started to lose energy, and Wolves saw their chance after receiving some superb reinforcement from the bench.

Nelson Semedo was at the feet of Costa when he glanced a shot just wide, and Turner made a great save.

Even as the pressure increased, Wolves didn’t score until Cheye Alexander was penalized for fouling Hwang in a crowded penalty area. Jimenez calmly moved forward to score the ensuing penalty kick.

Ait-Nouri wrapped up victory when he prodded home a second in time added on.

[forminator_poll id="710479"]

Latest stories

U.S. Financial Analyst labels Akufo-Addo as Ghana’s worst, corrupt leader

Renowned U.S. financial analyst Scott Bolshevik has sparked a...

Lead-based paints cause lasting health damage – EPA

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has voiced concerns over...

Upper West Region receives 35,600 condoms in effort to curb HIV spread

The Ghana AIDS Commission distributed 35,600 condoms in the...

Star Oil commemorates 25th anniversary

Star Oil, a privately-run fuel retail company, has reaffirmed...

Govt has not issued financial clearance for new expenses – Govt’s transition team

The Government Transition Team clarified that no financial clearance...

‘Your career has not come to an end when you leave a record label’ – Sefa

Ghanaian musician Sefadzi Abena Amesu, popularly known as Sefa,...

More than 12,000 Ghanaians were deported globally in last four years – GIS

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has reported that over...

Related stories

GFA reportedly planning a dissolution of the entire Black Stars backroom staff

Ghanaian football legends John Paintsil and Fatau Dauda are...

Mikel Arteta defends substituting Martin Ødegaard in Arsenal draw

Mikel Arteta has explained his decision to substitute Arsenal...

Mbappe no longer with transgender girlfriend; he said he is single

Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe has reportedly ended his...

Saudi Arabia confirmed as 2034 World Cup hosts – FIFA confirms

FIFA has announced that Saudi Arabia will host the...

Kwasi Appiah hesitant to confirm interest in Black Stars coaching role

Former Black Stars head coach James Kwasi Appiah Kwasi...

Pep Guardiola has no plans of managing any other club after Man City

Manager of Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, has shared his...