Wolves 2 (Kandola 72, Fraser 79) PSV 1 (Ebed 85)
Second half goals from Kam Kandola and Nathan Fraser secured victory over International Cup holders PSV under the Molineux lights on Monday evening.
Both goals came in the final 20 minutes courtesy of two local players who have risen through the ranks at Compton Park over the last 10 years.
PSV ensured it was a nail-biting ending for James Collins’ side after Tai Abed pulled one back on 85 minutes, but the youngsters in Old Gold held firm to secure all three points against the Dutch outfit.
Wolves made a positive start to the game and came close inside the opening couple of minutes as Kandola headed just over the top from Owen Hesketh’s corner.
Despite having moments in the Wolves half, Collins’ men kept PSV at bay for the majority and looked the more threatening,.
Fraser did superbly to roll his marker as he showed strength to turn into a crossing position, but Hesketh couldn’t quite make up the ground as the ball was flashed across the face of the goal.
Moments later, Tawanda Chirewa showed similar strength to get away from his man and was able to open up and looked to bend one into the far corner, however the ball was always rising.
At the other end, Kandola made an expertly timed last-ditch tackle to prevent Jesper Uneken from getting a shot away, before Julian Kwaaitaal struck low into the gloves of Joe Young.
Kwaaitaal then had a second dig which was comfortably held by Young shortly before Abed let rip from distance with a strike that narrowly whistled past the post.
Half-time | Wolves 0-0 PSV
Wolves came out for the second period in the same vein the played for the majority of the first half. A corner was recycled back out to Hesketh who whipped in a dangerous delivery onto the head of Fraser, but Justin Hubner, on the stretch, couldn’t quite poke home at the far post.
The home side attacked again when Chirewa played an exquisite reverse pass to Fraser and the striker closed in on goal before smashing a left-footed strike the wrong side of the post.
Wolves were getting closer with each chance and this time, Hesketh was quick to capitalise on PSV’s failure to clear as he stung the palms of Peersman with a firm strike from the edge.
Chirewa was again in the thick of the action as he turned superbly on the halfway before feeding Hesketh down the left. Fraser was eager for a cross into the box, but Hesketh went alone and fired over the top of the bar.
With 18 minutes left to play, the hosts finally got their reward in front of goal. Enso Gonzalez delivered a teasing corner into the penalty area and Kandola rose highest to head home in front of the South Bank to break the deadlock.
Kam Kandola gives us the lead against PSV 💪#PLIC pic.twitter.com/2r8LOk1dpB
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) October 16, 2023
And a second goal arrived shortly after and it was a deserved one for Fraser following an impressive display. It came from another corner, this time from the boot of Hesketh as Fraser got on the end of it in the centre to head into the far corner.
A goal Nathan Fraser's performance has merited ⚽️#PLIC pic.twitter.com/gj4KX043d4
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) October 16, 2023
However, PSV ensured it was going to be a nervy final few minutes as they pulled a goal back through a superb curling effort from Abed who cut inside and stuck past the diving Young.
The game was far from over and Young had to pull off another save to his left to thwart Uneken who had got across his man to head towards goal.
The Old Gold had nine minutes of added time to navigate through and Young made a sensational stop to keep his team in it, as Mohammed Nassoh let fly from range with a dipping attempt that needed to be tipped over.
Full-time | Wolves 2-1 PSV
COMING UP
Wolves under-21s host Southampton in Premier League 2 on Monday 30th October.
NEXT FIVE
- 30/10 Southampton (H)
- 03/11 Nottingham Forest (A)
- 07/11 Derby County (A) EFL Trophy
- 13/11 Charlton Athletic (H) PL Cup
- 24/11 Sparta Prague (H) PLIC
TEAMS
Wolves | Young, Birtwistle, Keto-Diyawa (Ojinnaka 61), Jordao, Kandola, Hubner, Gonzalez (Barnett 73), Whittingham, Fraser (Farmer 86), Hesketh (Chiwome 86), Chirewa.
Subs not used | Storer, Rees, E. McLeod.
PSV | Peersman, Rovers (El Meliani 75), Dagasan, Dams, Jansen (Muinos 46), Jimenez (Van Duiven 58), Abed, Van Den Berg (Houben 82), Uneken, Nassoh, Kwaaitaal (Zimuangana 82).
Subs not used | Janssen, Bawuah.
