Stunning Kroupi Drive Helps Bournemouth Beat Wolves

0

2

BournemouthAFC BournemouthAFC Bournemouth

Full time

FT

Half Time Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 , AFC Bournemouth 1

HT 0-1

Key Events

Wolverhampton Wanderers

AFC Bournemouth

• J. Kroupi (33′)Goal 33 minutes
• A. Scott (90’+1)Goal 90 minutes plus 1

Assists

AFC Bournemouth,A. Adli (33′), Rayan (90’+1)

---

Venue:Molineux Stadium

Attendance:30,161

At a glance

• Eli Juniour Kroupi fires home stunning Bournemouth opener.
• Wolves have early Matheus Mane header ruled out for offside.
• Joao Gomes strikes post before Alex Scott doubles Cherries’ lead late on.
• Bournemouth register back-to-back wins for first time since September.
• PLAYER RATER

ByMatthew Howarth

BBC Sport journalist

Eli Junior Kroupi’s thunderous first-half strike helped Bournemouth beat Wolves at Molineux to register back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time since September.

Last-gasp victors over Liverpool last weekend, the Cherries struggled to test Jose Sa before the half-hour mark but took the lead when Kroupi rifled an unstoppable, looping effort over the Wolves goalkeeper from just inside the penalty area.

Alex Scott clinched all three points for Bournemouth late in the second half when he converted Cherries’ debutant Rayan’s low cross from the left.

The result was a little harsh on beleaguered Wolves, who created plenty of chances as they sought to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat at Manchester City – their first loss in four league matches.

Indeed, Rob Edwards’ team thought they had taken an early lead when Mateus Mane nodded Rodrigo Gomes’ cross in off the post after only seven minutes.

However, the hosts’ celebrations were swiftly cut short by the linesman’s flag after Gomes had strayed marginally offside in the build-up to the teenager’s header.

Bournemouth went close to a second after Kroupi’s opener, with Amine Adli and Alex Jimenez both denied by Sa either side of half-time.

But Djordje Petrovic thwarted Tolu Arokodare with a reflex stop before Jorgen Strand Larsen – who has been the subject of bids from Leeds United and Crystal Palace this month – dragged a shot wide not long after coming off the bench.

Joao Gomes headed Hugo Bueno’s corner against the outside of the post as Wolves applied heavy pressure, but Scott struck in stoppage time to earn manager Andoni Iraola a narrow win in his 100th Premier League game in charge of the club.

Iraola’s team climb to 12th but are now just five points off a top four spot – although they have played a game more than the majority of teams above them.

With 14 games left to play, Wolves remain 17 points adrift of safety with a far inferior goal difference to 17th-placed Nottingham Forest.

Bournemouth analysis: Cherries made to work for victory

After ending their 11-match winless Premier League run against Tottenham earlier this month, Bournemouth appear to be finding form again.

While there was not much to separate the teams early on at Molineux, the visitors looked far more dangerous once Kroupi had thumped them ahead with his eighth league goal of the campaign.

The 19-year-old’s strike – coming after Scott had intercepted a stray pass inside the Wolves half – made him the joint highest-scoring teenager in Europe’s top five leagues this term, level with Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal.

Adli could have doubled the Cherries’ lead before the interval, but after running on to Kroupi’s through ball he was unable to steer his shot past Sa from a tight angle.

The Wolves goalkeeper was forced into action again within seconds of the restart, parrying Jimenez’s goal-bound strike out of harm’s way after a marauding run from the 20-year-old.

However, Bournemouth’s failure to double their advantage left the door open for Wolves to snatch an equaliser – which they nearly did when Joao Gomes nodded against the woodwork late on.

It was not until Scott netted in the first minute of second-half stoppage time that Iraola and the Bournemouth supporters could truly celebrate their third win in four top-flight games.

Wolves analysis: Edwards’ side fall short despite moments of promise

Wolves were powerless to resist Manchester City last weekend, but they had shown enough promise in recent games to suggest they could trouble a side who had won only once on their travels all season.

Edwards had called on his players to match the Cherries’ trademark intensity, and his side certainly started the game on the front foot.

Rodrigo Gomes was a livewire down the right but, with Strand Larsen once again watching on from the bench, the hosts lacked a focal point in attack – despite the considerable endeavours of Arokodare.

Mane was unfortunate to have his early header ruled out but the 18-year-old otherwise failed to properly trouble Petrovic, sending two long-range efforts straight at the Cherries keeper.

The hosts could – and maybe should – have salvaged a draw in the second half, but they were frustrated by a combination of wayward finishing and the woodwork before Scott settled Bournemouth’s nerves in added time.

What’s next for these teams?

Both teams return to action on Saturday, 7 February (15:00 GMT) as Wolves welcome Chelsea to Molineux and Bournemouth take on Aston Villa at the Vitality Stadium.

Average rating7.95

Source: BBC