What a performance from Matheus Cunha: The former Bundesliga player scored three times at Stamford Bridge on Sunday to inflict another defeat on Chelsea FC. The Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder was only off target on one goal
In the 4-1 defeat at Liverpool in midweek, Nkunku was still promoting himself as a substitute goalscorer – four days later, Chelsea coach Mauricio Pochettino started the Frenchman from the beginning. In addition to Madueke, Badiashile, for whom Gusto started, also took a place on the bench for the time being.
Meanwhile, the visitors from Wolverhampton were looking to bounce back from their late and bitter 4-3 defeat to Manchester United on Sunday afternoon. Head coach Gary O’Neil made three changes to the starting eleven, bringing on Ait Nouri, Joao Gomes and Sarabia. Doherty, Doyle and Bellegarde, on the other hand, were relegated to a spectator role for the time being
Palmer opens the scoring for Chelsea
The game at Stamford Bridge got off to an entertaining start, with Wolves creating a double chance after just two minutes through Pedro Neto and Matheus Cunha. Chelsea’s first noteworthy attacking move was not long in coming, but Dawson prevented Nkunku from finishing decisively just before the goal line (3rd).
While the hosts increasingly took control of the game, Caicedo found a gap in the opposition defense in the 19th minute. His pinpoint pass was finished off by Palmer, who remained ice-cold in front of goal
Caicedo partly responsible for both goals
Just three minutes later, Caicedo was once again at the heart of the action, but this time in a negative way. The Ecuadorian allowed Joao Gomes to take the ball carelessly in midfield and inadvertently set up Matheus Cunha’s equalizer.
After that, the teams were largely on an equal footing – but the draw did not last until the break. Caicedo did not look happy when he failed to pick up the run of the eventual goalscorer Ait Nouri for the second Chelsea goal in the 43rd minute. The advanced left-back received the ball in the six-yard box from Pedro Neto and was lucky that Disasi deflected it decisively into the net
Matheus Cunha follows up
After the break, Chelsea tried to turn the game around, but their efforts failed badly as Matheus Cunha scored first after a Pedro Neto pass to make it 3-1 (63′) and later added another goal after being fouled by Gusto in the box (82′).
The fact that Thiago Silva reduced the deficit shortly afterwards with a header from a corner was nothing more than a side note (86′) – after all, Chelsea had conceded four goals for the second time in five days and had to let Wolves pass them in the table.
