Rayan Ait-Nouri struck five minutes into added time to see the Julen Lopetegui era get off to a winning start in the Premier League in the most dramatic of circumstances at Goodison Park.
Boxing Day on Merseyside wasn’t always going so smoothly for the new head coach, who saw his side fall behind early on following Yerry Mina’s header. Wolves responded well though, and Daniel Podence finished off a well-worked corner by firing home from close range.
Chances were at a premium after the break, but Wolves were patient, and when their big one arrived in added time, they took it. Adama Traore’s cross from a swift counter attack caused mayhem in the Toffees box and Ait-Nouri pounced to spark unbelievable scenes in the away end.
Lopetegui’s wait for his Premier League bow was a long time coming, and while quality on show during the first 45 may not have peaked, there was plenty of entertainment, eneadvour and a pair of goals, with Wolves’ the move of the half.
The old gold had to come from behind on Merseyside after Everton took the goal with relative easy. Dwight McNeil swung in the corner and Mina outmuscled Hugo Bueno, leaving him with the task of glancing into the far corner, beyond the dive of Jose Sa.
However, from their own corner, Wolves found their leveller on 22 minutes. Podence played the corner short to Ruben Neves, who clipped a delightful ball to Joao Moutinho waiting on the edge, and he took a touch before clipping a ball with the outside of his foot into the path of Podence to sweep home from close range.
Wolves' number 10 was involved soon after too, as he played in Bueno down the left and his cross was aimed for Diego Costa in the six-yard box, but he couldn’t put enough power behind it and Jordan Pickford was able to easily collect. Let off for the hosts.
Everton had their own chances too. Sa did well to get down low to deny Anthony Gordon, before a mix up in the Wolves defence present an opportunity to Neal Maupay, but he shot straight at the goalkeeper, meaning the two sides went in level at the break.
Half-time | Everton 1-1 Wolves
The battle continued after the break, and after scoring in a training match during the World Cup break, Bueno was eyeing his first competitive goal, and when Podence slipped him in on 56 it looked to have arrived, but he side footed towards the neat post and Pickford was able to beat it away.
Lopetegui made chances in a big to change the game, but chances were taking their time to arrive. Everton were struggling to test Sa too, with Gordon and Demarai Gray firing wide of the post from set pieces.
Wolves actually finished the game with a back three, and with all five of his cards played Lopetegui could only watch as Matheus Nunes led the counter attack, spraying a pass into the path of Adama, whose crossed was missed by Costa, but not Ait-Nouri, who fired in from close range with virtually the last kick of the game.
Full-time | Everton 1-2 Wolves
Everton | Pickford, Patterson, Mina (Godfrey 76), Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Gueye (Doucoure 83), Onana, Iwobi, McNeil (Gray 56), Gordon, Maupay (Cannon 83).
Unused subs | Begovic, Holgate, Coleman, Davies, Vinagre.
Wolves | Sa, Semedo, Collins, Kilman, Bueno (Ait-Nouri 59), Moutinho, Neves, Hodge (Nunes 59), Hwang (Adama 59), Podence (Guedes 72), Costa.
Unused subs | Sarkic, Lembikisa, Toti, Ronan, Jimenez.
