Wolves take chances against Chelsea

Mario Lemina and Matt Doherty scored as Wolverhampton Wanderers sealed a 2-1 win at home to Chelsea.

It was the visitors who had much of the play in the first half with Raheem Sterling causing the majority of problems for Wolves' defence.

The Chelsea forward had the best chance of the half when he was through but José Sá pulled off a smart save, although the England international will have felt he could have passed instead of taking on the shot for what would have been a tap-in.

The home side did grow into the game as the half went on with Hwang Hee-chan going close with an effort that he fired off target after a ball over the top.

Gary O'Neil's side took the lead just six minutes into the second half when Pablo Sarabia's corner was guided into the net by the head of Mario Lemina.

Wolves needed some heroic defending to avoid conceding an equaliser. Toti Gomes made a vital goal-line clearance to prevent substitute Christopher Nkunku from opening his Chelsea account before Craig Dawson injured himself in the process of blocking Stirling's effort.

Dawson's injury meant the game had 11 minutes of stoppage time that provided two more goals.

Three minutes into added time Santiago Bueno's low cross was intercepted by Benoit Badiashile but the Chelsea man inadvertently set up Matt Doherty who kept his composure to slide the ball into the corner out of the reach of Djordje Petrovic. 

If Wolves thought they'd get to enjoy the final few minutes they were wrong when Nkunku reduced the deficit just a few minutes later. 

The former RB Leipzig man was completely unmarked in the box when Sterling's ball from the right came in, allowing the striker to have an easy, headed finish and grab his first Chelsea goal in his first Premier League appearance.

Chelsea couldn't build on that to pull a late dramatic equaliser though with Wolves holding on to all three points on Christmas Eve. O'Neil's team now move up to 11th in the table, level on points with the Blues but with an inferior goal difference.

xG: Wolverhampton Wanderers (1.38) 2-1 (2.08) Chelsea

Merry Christmas!

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— Wolves (@Wolves) December 24, 2023