Justin Hubner’s deflected second half strike against Cardiff City confirmed Wolves under-21s as winners of their Premier League Cup group.
The defender let fly from outside the area just before the hour mark at the New Bucks Head and watched his effort wrongfoot goalkeeper Jack Dennis as the ball was diverted in off a Bluebirds defender.
With five wins from six, it meant the old gold topped Group H and secured a home tie against Stoke City in the next round.
James Collins’ side were comfortable for much of the game and could have perhaps added to their goal tally after creating a number of chances in the second half.
Chem Campbell went close on two separate occasions early on, with a strike that flashed wide of the mark, before the winger latched onto Jack Scott’s ball over the top but after cutting inside his man, Campbell could only fire high and wide.
The best chance of the opening 45 for the visitors came when Jack Leahy crossed to Chanka Zimba who got in front of his man at the near post, but was unable to wrap his foot around the ball as he poked wide.
Half-time | Wolves 0-0 Cardiff
There was no doubt that it was Wolves who were the ones knocking on the door once the game resumed after the half-time interval. Dylan Scicluna tested the reflexes of Dennis with a dipping strike from the edge that the Cardiff goalkeeper did well to tip over the bar.
Some neat interplay between Owen Farmer and Owen Hesketh then opened up space for the latter to fire one across goal, but the ball was always moving away from the left-hand corner.
The breakthrough came just shy of the hour and it was Hubner who found himself high up the field and having received the ball from Oliver Tipton, he struck towards goal from 20 yards and watched it hit the back of the net via a deflection.
Justin Hubner opens the scoring at the New Bucks Head ⚽️#PLCup pic.twitter.com/aI1sncDCqK
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) January 20, 2023
It could have been two shortly after when the two wing-backs, Aaron Keto-Diyawa and Scott, combined. Wolves worked it well down the left and it gave Keto-Diyawa the space to chip the ball towards the back post and onto the head of Scott, but he nodded inches wide from a few yards out.
Palmi Arinbjornsson wasn’t tested too much throughout the afternoon but when he was called upon, the Wolves stopper responded. After receiving a pass from Eli King, Zimba found himself with the chance to shoot inside area and he kept it low, but quickly down was Arinbjornsson to preserve the one-goal lead.
And Wolves thought they had made the game safe when they went back up the other end as substitute Jack Hodnett teed up Scicluna who swung his left boot at it, before watching his powerful drive cannon back off the post and away.
Scicluna fires one off the post!#PLCup pic.twitter.com/y0KQ2mOpy7
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) January 20, 2023
Cardiff were desperate for a point that would’ve kept them in the competition, but were left frustrated. Cameron Antwi’s late free-kick had the dip but not quite the accuracy as he watched the ball sail over the bar with the last chance of the game.
Full-time | Wolves 1-0 Cardiff
COMING UP
Wolves under-21s return to PL2 action on Monday evening with a trip to face Tottenham Hotspur.
NEXT FIVE
- 23/01 Tottenham (A)
- 27/02 Liverpool (H)
- 13/02 Arsenal (H)
- 20/02 Leicester (A)
- 27/02 Manchester United (H)
TEAMS
Wolves | Arinbjornsson, Scott, Keto-Diyawa, Mabete, Tipton (Hodnett 64), Hubner (Kandola 82), Barnett, Griffiths (Agboola 35), Farmer (Fraser 63), Scicluna, Campbell (Hesketh 46).
Cardiff | Dennis, Campbell, Davies, MacNamara, Benjamin, Antwi, Semenyo, King, Zimba, Leahy (Jefferies 67), Wigley.
Subs not used | Spiers, Thomas, Kenniford, Pritchard.
