Goals in each half from Sean Busch and Joao Pinto condemned Wolves under-21s to defeat against Wolfsburg on a bitterly cold night under the Molineux lights.
However, the result didn’t tell the full story as the old gold dominated for most of the Premier League International Cup tie and were denied on several occasions, but it was the Germans who struck against the run of play twice to claim the points.
James Collins was able to start both Jack Scott and Owen Hesketh for the first time this season, with the duo now fully recovered from injuries that have kept them out up to this point. Meanwhile, 16-year-old Tom Edozie made his under-21s debut and Justin Hubner was back in the heart of the defence.
The visitors broke the deadlock inside the opening 10 minutes as Busch was played through inside the area, before taking a touch and firing low past Louie Moulden into the far corner.
Wolves responded well, though, and came close to levelling when Aaron Keto-Diyawa combined down the left-hand side with Fabian Reynolds before picking out Edozie at the back post whose effort was blocked.
Hubner had his head in his hands on 15 minutes when Dylan Scicluna’s corner caused mayhem inside the area and the ball landed at the feet of the defender, who could only stick out a boot and divert just wide of the post.
Scicluna then drove a shot wide himself, before Lee Harkin spotted Wolfsburg goalkeeper Philip Schulze off his line and went for the chip – the execution and intelligence to recognise the opening was there, but the away stopper scampered back to tip the ball over the bar.
Lee Harkin is denied after spotting Philip Schulze off his line!#PLIC pic.twitter.com/Pah0nQeQdM
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) December 14, 2022
Wolves played with high intensity and intent throughout, which forced their opponents into a mistake five minutes before the interval. Edozie pressed high, before pick-pocketing his man and looking for Harkin in the centre – fortunately for the visitors, Schulze was quickly out to claim the cross.
Half-time | Wolves 0-1 Wolfsburg
Conor McLeod, who turns 16 on Thursday, was introduced for the second half, as Reynolds made way for Wolves.
Collins’ side continued to enjoy the majority of possession and were in control as they searched for what would have been a well-deserved equaliser. Scicluna played an exquisite pass in behind the Wolfsburg backline which found the run of Scott from right-back who had acres of space to pick his spot, but skewed his attempt into the side netting.
Keep battling away, lads! 📸 pic.twitter.com/2X8fjAHq9Z
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) December 14, 2022
Substitute McLeod looked lively with some neat touches, before trying his luck himself. After working some space, the attacker let fly with a strike on the edge of the box which deflected just over the top of the crossbar.
For all their dominance, Wolves were punished on the counter-attack with 25 minutes left on the clock. Busch turned provider as he raced forward from the halfway line and played the unselfish pass to the unmarked Pinto in the centre who made no mistake, coolly finishing past Moulden.
Wolves kept plugging away and had the ball in the back of the net when Jack Hodnett played a defence-splitting pass to Scott. The Irishman finished well, but took one look to his right to see the offside flag up to deny him a goal on his return to action.
Having already saved his side earlier in the game, there was still time for Schulze to produce a sensational reaction save to prevent Hubner from pulling one back. As the free-kick came in, the ball was flicked into the area where the defender was waiting, but he didn’t know much about it as Hubner diverted towards goal, before seeing the goalkeeper lift up a right glove to bat the ball away.
How did that stay out?!#PLIC pic.twitter.com/BDLZywkvNm
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) December 14, 2022
Full-time | Wolves 0-2 Wolfsburg
COMING UP
The under-21s have one final fixture this year, as Collins takes his side to Reading in the Premier League Cup on Monday.
NEXT FIVE
- 19/12 Reading (A) PLC
- 05/01 Sunderland (A) PLC
- 08/01 Blackburn (H)
- 13/01 Chelsea (A)
- 18/01 Celtic (H) PLIC
TEAMS
Wolves | Moulden, Scott (Ashworth 81), Kandola, Hubner, Keto-Diyawa, Scicluna (Bradbury 87), Hesketh, Hodnett, Edozie (Matheson 66), Reynolds (McLeod 46), Harkin.
Subs not used | Young, Hvid.
Wolfsburg | Ssculze, Ostergaard, Boateng, Busch, Pinto (Georgiadi 81), Kastull, Doci (Prokopp 56), Odugu, Meier, Wagbe, Costa (Mattoue 81).
Subs not used | Schonmottel, Homann.
