Premier League, Molineux – Wolves 4 (Jota 6′, 64′, 90′) Leicester City 3 (Gray 47′, Coady OG 51′, Morgan 87′)
Diogo Jota scored a dramatic stoppage time winner, also capping his hat-trick, to give Wolves a 4-3 win over Leicester City in what was one of the games of the Premier League season so far.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side scored twice in the opening 12 minutes to take a commanding lead, with Jota and Ryan Bennett finding the back of the net. From there, Wolves looked to be cruising, holding a 2-0 lead into half time.
However, Leicester hit back with two quick-fire goals of their own through Demerai Gray and an own goal from Conor Coady. At that stage, the match could have gone either way, such was the way the momentum was swinging back and forth.
It was Wolves who struck the next blow as Jota squeezed a finish underneath Kasper Schmeichel after being played in behind by the impressive Ruben Neves. But then Wes Morgan powered home a late header to give the Foxes what most assumed would be a share of the points.
But Jota scored the winner in the third minute of stoppage time to complete what was a topsy-turvy encounter at Molineux. Nuno was sent to the stands for celebrating with his Wolves players, illustrating what the win meant to the home side.
TALKING POINT – Will this pile yet more pressure on Claude Puel?
The Leicester City manager had his head in his hands at the full time whistle. With good reason, too. Puel has come under intense pressure in recent weeks, with some fans critical of the way the Foxes play under the Frenchman. Others have been frustrated by a lack of consistency. This was a game Leicester could have won, they certainly could have taken a point, but suffered a damaging defeat. More questions will be asked of Puel after this.
MAN OF THE MATCH – Diogo Jota (Wolves)
The ‘Man of the Match’ award could hardly go to anyone else. Indeed, Jota was the headline grabber for Wolves, not just scoring the goal that gave them the win in stoppage time, but netting a hat-trick. Ruben Neves was also extremely impressive for the hosts, pulling the strings from deep and playing a role in every one of Wolves’ four goals, but it’s difficult to look past Jota.
PLAYER RATINGS
Wolves – Patricio 6, Bennett 7, Coady 7, Saiss 6, Otto 6, Dendoncker 5, Neves 8, Moutinho 7, Vinagre 6, Jimenez 8, Jota 9. Subs – Docherty 5, Gibbs-White 5.
Leicester City – Schmeichel 6, Simpson 6, Morgan 6, Maguire 5, Chilwell 5, Ricardo 5, Mendy 6, Barnes 7, Mendy 5, Gray 8, Vardy 7. Subs – Evans 5, Maddison 6, Iheanacho 5.
KEY MOMENTS
2’ What a save! Wow! That would have been an incredible start to the match. Neves took aim from about 25 yards out, but Schmeichel makes a diving save to prevent the ball from finding the top corner.
4’ GOAL! Wolves 1-0 Leicester City: What a start to the match by Wolves! Moutinho puts a cross into the box, there was only one man in the penalty box, but Jota got ahead of Simpson at the far post to finish into the net! Wolves have an early lead. They are on top.
5’ Almost a blunder! Patricio just about gets away with one. The Wolves goalkeeper got the ball stuck under his feet, Vardy pinched it, but the Leicester striker couldn’t quite finish into the net. Yikes.
12’ GOAL! Wolves 2-0 Leicester City: It’s 2-0 to Wolves! They have taken a real grip of this game early on. Bennett got up highest from a corner kick, higher than Maguire, and powered a header into the back of the net. This is already an uphill task for Leicester City!
19’ Good shot, good save! Patricio had to get down low to make the diving save to prevent Gray’s powerful, low drive from finding the back of the net. Leicester City are enjoying a good spell.
47’ GOAL! Wolves 2-1 Leicester City: That’s exactly what Puel would have wanted from his team at the start of this second half! Vardy played the pass to Gray and from there the Wolves defence just couldn’t deal with his pace, guiding a low shot into the low corner of the net.
51’ GOAL! Wolves 2-2 Leicester City: An equaliser for Leicester City! It’s the youngster Barnes, who has only just been recalled from a loan at West Brom! The ball was played back to Barnes and he squeezed home a finish between the legs of Coady! Back level!
64’ GOAL! Wolves 3-2 Leicester City: Wolves are back in front and it’s Jota again! Neves played a wonderful ball over the top for Jota to chase, he had the pace on Morgan and squeezed his finish underneath Schmeichel and into the back of the Leicester net!
87’ GOAL! Wolves 3-3 Leicester City: A late equaliser! Morgan got on the end of the freekick delivery from Maddison, powering a header past Patricio! There were two Wolves defenders marking the Leicester man and they still couldn’t beat him to the cross!
90+3’ GOAL! Wolves 4-3 Leicester City: What a game! What a finish! It’s Jota! It’s his hat trick! And it’s a win for Wolves! Neves played the diagonal pass, Jimenez found Jota in the middle and his shot finds the back of the net off the inside of the post! Nuno is on the pitch!
KEY STATS
Wolves have scored more winning goals in the 90th minute or later than any other side in the Premier League this season.
Ryan Bennett became the first British player to score for Wolves in the Premier League this season.
Joao Moutinho became the first Wolves player to provide two assists in a Premier League game since Kevin Doyle (against Swansea in April 2012).
