Wolves 2 (Edozie 45+2, 62) Newcastle (Ojinnaka OG 8, Munda 90)
Tom Edozie scored a brace on his first Premier League 2 start as Wolves under-21s and Newcastle United shared the points on Monday night.
The Magpies broke the deadlock inside just eight minutes and Wolves will have been disappointed with the way Trevan Sanusi was allowed to do so. The wideman went on the outside of Aaron Keto-Diyawa and made his way to the byline, before his effort across goal crept over the line with Temple Ojinnaka unable to stop it going in.
Jimmy Storer had to be alert to push away Joe White’s free-kick from the angle that made its way through the bodies before the goalkeeper did well to clear the danger.
At the other end, Harvey Griffiths played a ball over the top to Marvin Kaleta and with the help of a Newcastle defender, the right-back was in behind. Edozie waited in the middle and looked sure to tap home a low cross into the box before, in the nick of time, the visiting defender cleared for a corner.
Wolves probed for a leveller before the half-time interval and following a corner, Griffiths took aim with a goalbound strike that was well-blocked by Leo Shahar.
However, the Old Gold found their equaliser in first half stoppage time as Ty Barnett latched onto a Leon Chiwome flick on and closed in on goal, before striking across the face and forcing Will Brown into a save. Fortunately for the home side, Edozie was following in to bundle home for 1-1.
Tom Edozie equalises 💪#PL2 pic.twitter.com/B3SD0BpF4k
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) March 4, 2024
Half-time | Wolves 1-1 Newcastle
Edozie was at it again shortly after the hour mark as Wolves, who controlled the early exchanges of the second period, took the lead for the first time on the night. After Ojinnaka saw his header from a corner come back off the underside of the bar, the home side recycled the ball back into the box which Newcastle were unable to clear, and Edozie struck a sweet low strike into the net from the penalty spot.
Two for Tom Edozie ✌️#PL2 pic.twitter.com/7d4kcon2AS
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) March 4, 2024
Wolves looked to further increase their advantage when Barnett drove with the ball and into a shooting position, but whistled his effort just wide of the far post.
Newcastle substitute James Huntley came close to a leveller before another header over the bar gave James Collins’ side a late scare.
However, the visitors eventually levelled on 90 as Anthony Munda latched onto a flick and composed himself before firing into the top corner with an unstoppable effort.
Wolves came close to regaining the lead in stoppage time as substitute Fil Mabete saw a deflected strike go just wide before, from the resulting corner, Griffiths was unable to keep his close-range header down.
And Fletcher Holman perhaps should have secured all three points when he was set free and in on goal, but the striker went early with his low shot which was saved by the legs of the goalkeeper.
Full-time | Wolves 2-2 Newcastle
COMING UP
Wolves under-21s travel to face Derby County in Premier League 2 next Monday.
NEXT FIVE
- 11/03 Derby (A)
- 15/03 Everton (A)
- 08/04 Sunderland (H)
- 15/04 Tottenham (A)
- 29/04 Brighton (H)
TEAMS
Wolves | Storer, Kaleta, Keto-Diyawa, Griffiths, Ojinnaka, Pond, Esen (Ashworth 81), Whittingham, Chiwome (Holman 67), Barnett (Mabete 85), Edozie (Rees 81).
Subs not used | Okoduwa.
Newcastle | Brown, Shahar, Charlton (Hackett 46), Murphy, Thompson, Munda, Sanusi, White, Parkinson (Huntley 78), Harrison (Neave 85), Crossley (Stanton 78).
Subs not used | Harrison.
