Wolves 2-4 Bournemouth: Justin Kluivert nets hat-trick of penalties after electric start sees three goals in first EIGHT minutes at Molineux – as Jose Sa furiously clashes with fan at half-time

admin

The defining image of this Wolves horror show came at half-time when keeper Jose Sa went into the South Bank to fume at some of his own fans who were abusing him, and were subsequently ejected by the stewards.

It was the only thing that went Sa’s way on an afternoon where Bournemouth’s Justin Kluivert became the first player in Premier League history to score a hat-trick of penalties.

‘It sounds beautiful. To go in the history books – that’s amazing.’ said Kluivert, son of Patrick. 

‘I train them (penalties). We have a great keeper in Kepa. We try some stuff – the first one I stopped and looked at the keeper. I switched it up for the second. Then the third, he doesn’t know what I’m going to do. I waited and he chose for me. Easy as that,’ the Dutchman added.

Sa gave away two of those penalties but it would be harsh to blame him alone. 

Gary O’Neil’s side were a shambles during the opening 18 minutes where they scored but gave away two penalties and conceded three goals.

Justin Kluivert became the first Premier League player to score a hat-trick of penalties at Wolves

The Dutchman was perfect from the penalty spot during Bournemouth's 4-2 triumph at Molineux

The Dutchman was perfect from the penalty spot during Bournemouth’s 4-2 triumph at Molineux

Jose Sa was involved in a furious altercation with a Wolves fan shortly after the half time whistle

Jose Sa was involved in a furious altercation with a Wolves fan shortly after the half time whistle

‘We made too many errors and with where we are in the league, it heightens emotion,’ an under pressure O’Neil admitted.

Bournemouth raced out of the blocks with a route one delivery finding Evanilson, who was fouled by Toti in the box in the opening minute. Kluivert calmly sent Jose Sa the wrong way.

Wolves levelled two minutes later when Jean Ricner-Bellegarde’s cross picked out Jorgen Strand Larsen, who headed past Kepa.

Marcus Tavernier then found Milos Kerkez on the overlap in the eighth minute and the Hungarian rifled in his first goal in English football.

In the 18th minute, Evanilson pressed Sa and dispossessed the Wolves keeper, who in attempting to clear the ball caught the striker.

This time, Sa went the right way but Kluivert’s penalty was too powerful.

At half-time, Sa’s emotions boiled over, going into the crowd behind his goal with goalkeeping coach Neil Cutler eventually pulling Sa away as the stewards removed a couple of fans, much to the joy of the rest of the South Bank. O’Neil refused to comment on the incident after.

Strand Larsen pulled one back after the break with a deflected finish to give Wolves a glimmer of hope but any hope of a comeback evaporated minutes later when Craig Dawson’s backpass was too weak and Sa took Evanilson out in the box again.

Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen also netted a brace during the six-goal thriller at Molineux

Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen also netted a brace during the six-goal thriller at Molineux

MATCH FACTS

WOLVES (4-2-3-1): Sa 3; Semedo 5, Lemina 5, Toti 4 (Guedes 64, 6), Ait-Nouri 5; J Gomes 5, R Gomes 4 (Dawson 46, 4); Andre 6 (Hwang 82), Bellegarde 6 (Forbs 64, 5), Cunha 6; Larsen 7.

Subs unused: Johnstone, Doherty, Bueno, Doyle, Sarabia.

Goals: Larsen 5, 69

Bookings: Semedo, Dawson, Sa, Lemina, Larsen

Manager: Gary O’Neil 5

 

BOURNEMOUTH (4-2-3-1): Arrizabalaga 6; Smith 6, Zabarnyi 6, Senesi 6 (Huijsen 82), Kerkez 7; Adams 6.5, Christie 6.5; Brooks 6 (Ouattara 64, 6), Kluivert 9 (Billing 77), Tavernier 7; Evanilson 8 (Unal 77)

Subs unused: Travers, Hill, Aarons, Winterburn, Kinsey.

Goals: Kluivert 3 (pen) 18 (pen) 74 (pen), Kerkez 8.

Bookings: Zabarnyi.

Manager: Andoni Iraola 7

Advertisement

The Brazilian became the first player to win three penalties in the same game in Premier League history, with Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola crediting his £40million signing as the ‘difference-maker’ even though he wasn’t on the scoresheet.

And Kluivert was on hand to send Sa the wrong way again, joining a special group of players who have scored a hat-trick of penalties in an English top-flight game.

For Billy Walker in 1921, Charlie Mitten in 1950 and Ken Barnes in 1957, 67 years later, there is now Justin Kluivert in 2024.

Share This Article
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *