The clash at Molineux Stadium concluded with a 1-1 tie, showcasing a resilient performance from Brighton and Hove against Wolverhampton.
The opening goal came from an unfortunate own goal by Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen, redirecting the ball into his own net and granting Wolverhampton a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute of the first half. However, Brighton displayed determination and managed to equalize through Jan van Hecke’s goal in the 85th minute.
Wolverhampton had the opportunity to extend their lead, but Jörgen Larsen’s shot hit the post in the 74th minute, proving costly for the home side.
Brighton and Hove dominated the match in terms of attempts on goal, registering 15 shots to Wolverhampton’s 6, yet they could not secure all three points.
Jan van Hecke emerged as the standout player of the match, making a significant impact by scoring the late equalizer. Sam Johnstone of Wolverhampton was also notable, making 5 crucial saves and completing 28 accurate passes during the match.
The Wolves’ manager, Vítor de Oliveira Lopes Pereira, deployed a 4-3-3 formation with Sam Johnstone in goal, supported by Jackson Tchatchoua, Santiago Bueno, Ladislav Krejci, and Hugo Bueno in defense. The midfield featured Marshall Munetsi, André Trindade, and João Gomes, while the attack comprised Jhon Arias, Jörgen Larsen, and Hwang Heechan.
In contrast, Brighton’s coach Fabian Hürzeler opted for a 4-5-1 setup with Bart Verbruggen in goal and a defensive line including Mats Wieffer, Jan van Hecke, Lewis Dunk, and Ferdi Kadioglu. The midfield was manned by Carlos Baleba, Yasin Ayari, Yankuba Minteh, Diego Gómez, and Brajan Gruda, with Danny Welbeck leading the forward line.
Match referee Jarred Gillett oversaw the action at Molineux Stadium.
This result leaves Wolves at the bottom of the table with 2 points, while Brighton and Hove sit in 11th place with 9 points. In their upcoming fixtures, Wolverhampton will travel to face Sunderland, while Brighton will host Newcastle United.
Substitutions for Wolverhampton
59’ – Hwang Heechan off for Emmanuel Agbadou
76’ – Jörgen Larsen off for Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Hugo Bueno off for David Wolfe, and Diego Gómez off for James Milner
90’ – Marshall Munetsi off for Toluwalase Arokodare and João Gomes off for Yerson Mosquera
Yellow Cards for Wolverhampton:
5’ – Santiago Bueno (Unsporting behavior) and 51’ – André Trindade (Holding the opponent to impede advancement)
Red Card for Wolverhampton:
20’ – Vítor Pereira (Direct red)
Substitutions for Brighton and Hove
45’ – Carlos Baleba off for Georginio Rutter
69’ – Brajan Gruda off for Stefanos Tzimas and Mats Wieffer off for Maxim De Cuyper
Yellow Cards for Brighton and Hove:
19’ – Carlos Baleba (Unsporting behavior), 35’ – Lewis Dunk (Unsporting behavior), 42’ – Mats Wieffer (Unsporting behavior), and 46’ – Danny Welbeck (Unsporting behavior)