Wolves 0 Crystal Palace 2 (Munoz 63, Pino 69)
Wolves were beaten on Rob Edwards’ return to Molineux, as Daniel Munoz and Yeremy Pino scored after the break to earn Crystal Palace victory at Molineux.
The early signs were that of improvement in the first half, but the Old Gold unable to turn effort and endeavour into goals, with Ladislav Krejci firing the best opportunity over the bar.
What Wolves lacked before the break, Palace showed after it, with Munoz’s instinctive finish following a blocked Adam Wharton shot opening the scoring, before Pino’s brilliant, curling effort sealed the win in the space of six second half minutes.
The return of Edwards, and a ‘Hi Ho Silver Lining’ rendition pre-match, livened up Molineux before a ball was kicked, and an opening 20 minutes of commitment followed from those in old gold, albeit without goalmouth action.
Jorgen Strand Larsen sliced the first shot of the half wide, but Jean-Phillipe Mateta’s opening was significantly better. Wharton sent him clean through, but the Frenchman never looked set and scuffed his effort wide of the post.
Johnstone was then called into action to turn away a Daichi Kamada effort, while Marc Guehi got away without a second yellow card when denying Strand Larsen a clean run on goal. Joao Gomes’ free-kick which followed took a deflection and called Dean Henderson into action, but his parried save, which dropped to Ladislav Krejci, was too quick and he could only turn over the crossbar.
That was largely it for goalmouth action before the break. Pino had an effort deflected behind for a corner, while Strand Larsen couldn’t connect with Marshall Munetsi’s cross, as the two sides went in for the break level.
Half-time | Wolves 0-0 Crystal Palace
Wolves started well after the break and David Moller Wolfe’s vicious drive was blocked behind. From the corner’s second phase Tolu Arokodare laid the ball off to Munetsi, but he could only help it over the bar as he opted for the delicate finish.
Palace were always a threat though. Wolves felt like they had a bit of momentum on 57, but the Eagles kicked into gear and Ismaila Sarr should have scored when firing over a Pino cross with his left foot.
However, when the first goal arrived, it had a stroke of fortune about it. A short corner caught the Old Gold out and Wharton was given time and space on the edge of the box and his effort was blocked, leaving Johnstone stranded, and Munoz instinctively fired the ricochet high into the net. Following a VAR check for offside, the goal was given and the hosts trailed.
Then, just minutes later and the game was done. When looking to feed Strand Larsen, Hee Chan Hwang got his pass wrong, allowing Wharton to clip the ball around the corner to Pino, who first time swept a brilliant finish in off the underside of the crossbar.
Wolves should have given themselves a route back into the game when Wolfe got to the byline and cut back a good ball back, but Jhon Arias clawed the ball wide when Strand Larsen was set for a simple finish behind him.
The next opportunity fell to Hwang in the box, but his effort was blocked before reaching Henderson’s goal, while Eddie Nketiah curled just wide as Palace searched for a third goal, but the visitors were able to hold on comfortably to their win.
Full-time | Wolves 0-2 Crystal Palace
Wolves | Johnstone, Tchatchoua, Agbadou, Krejci (Arias 75), Toti, Wolfe (H Bueno 88), Andre, J Gomes, Munetsi (Bellegarde 66), Arokodare (Hwang 66), Strand Larsen.
Unused subs | Sa, Hoever, S Bueno, Mosquera, Lopez.
Crystal Palace | Henderson, Munoz, Lacroix, Guehi, Richards (Canvot 83), Mitchell, Wharton (Hughes 90+2), Kamada (Lerma 81), Pino (Devenny 81), Sarr, Mateta (Nketiah 60).
Unused subs | Benitez, Uche, Clyne, Sosa.
