Wolves 4 (Chiwome 45+1, Hesketh 72, Jordao 76, Kandola 89) Nice 2 (Mendes Vas 31, Nahounou 67)
Wolves under-21s twice came from behind to maintain their 100% record in the International Cup with victory over OGC Nice at Aggborough.
The French outfit twice took the lead, despite playing with 10 men for over half the game, but James Collins’ side rallied and scored three inside the final 18 minutes to turn the tie around and claim all three points.
The early exchanges were quiet and saw both sides look to gain some sort of control of the game, although Owen Hesketh came close when his cross into the area whistled inches wide of the far post with a touch all it needed in the centre.
Jimmy Storer was the called into action for the first time when Daouda Traore let fly from distance with a shot that needed to be saved.
And that prompted the visitors to push forward again and they took the lead shortly after the half hour mark when Hernani Mendes Vas picked up the ball on the right-hand side of the area, manoeuvred inside and found the back of the net as his left-footed shot beat Storer.
Wolves were unfortunate not to find themselves level when Nice goalkeeper Bartosz Zelazowski somehow clawed a deflected cross away from danger, before the visitors were reduced to 10 men on 39 minutes. It was their captain Reda Belahyane who saw red after his late challenge on Bruno Jordao was more than worthy of a second yellow card.
Looking to take advantage of the extra man as the half-time interval approached, the Old Gold somehow remained scoreless when Kam Kandola’s pinpoint switch to Aaron Keto-Diyawa was then laid back to Matty Whittingham who struck towards goal, and Owen Hesketh diverted over the top from just a few yards out.
However, the hosts were level inside the first minute of stoppage time when Leon Chiwome received the ball inside the area and looked to chip towards goal and, with the help of a deflection off a Nice head, his effort looped over Zelazowski and into the net.
Leon Chiwome levels at Aggborough ⚽️#PLIC pic.twitter.com/nrp2aoo2rW
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) November 29, 2023
Half-time | Wolves 1-1 Nice
After going close in the opening 45, Hesketh went even closer early into the second period. Owen Farmer crossed into a dangerous area where Hesketh had taken up a clever position, but his header from close range was palmed around the post by Zelazowski.
And despite being a man light, the French outfit regained the lead on 67 minutes when Yannis Nahounou rose highest in the penalty area to head home from a corner against the run of play.
Wolves needed a response once again and they got just that within five minutes. Marvin Kaleta fed the ball into Hesketh who took two neat touches to set himself inside the area before striking a low effort into the bottom right corner, as the midfielder got himself on the scoresheet at the third attempt.
That second leveller proved a catalyst for Collins’ youngsters to go on and take the lead for the first time on the night. And the goal which took them one ahead came courtesy of the boot of Jordao when, after some interchange down the left, the Portuguese man was picked out by Hesketh before taking a touch on his chest and rifling the ball into the net with his second.
Bruno Jordao scores our third of the night 🇵🇹#PLIC pic.twitter.com/c4oATvZos5
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) November 29, 2023
Kandola made sure of the three points as the clock approached 90 when Wolves did well to keep a corner alive and the defender was on hand to poke home from a few yards out.
The result means that Wolves now top Group A with nine points from nine going into their final group fixture against Hertha Berlin in the New Year.
Full-time | Wolves 4-2 Nice
COMING UP
Wolves under-21s return to Premier League 2 action as they travel to face Leicester City on Monday evening.
NEXT FIVE
- 04/12 Leicester City (A)
- 11/12 Norwich City (H) PL Cup
- 18/12 Blackburn Rovers (H)
- 12/01 Norwich City (A)
- 17/01 Hertha Berlin (H) PLIC
TEAMS
Wolves | Storer, Kaleta, Keto-Diyawa, Jordao, Kandola, Hubner (Ojinnaka 90), Esen (Rees 75), Whittingham, Chiwome (E. McLeod 83), Hesketh (Lopes 90), Farmer.
Subs not used | Benjamin, Mabete, Harper.
Nice | Zelazowski, N. Youssouf (Gnoan 84), M. Youssouf, Jerbi (Benlebsir 84), Nahounou, Camara, Mendes Vas (Rousseau 46), Alvarenga (Wattel 57), Tellusson (Bony 46), Belahyane, Traore.
Subs not used | Pieroni.
