Matheus Cunha was the match-winner as Wolves capitalized on Illia Zabarnyi’s red card to claim a crucial 1-0 victory over Bournemouth, moving five points clear of the Premier League relegation zone.
Cunha’s first-half strike proved decisive, punishing Bournemouth just minutes after Zabarnyi was sent off following a VAR review.
Cunha Strikes as Wolves Take Control
The first 36 minutes at the Vitality Stadium were end-to-end, with both teams creating chances. However, Wolves broke the deadlock when:
- Marshall Munetsi delivered a cross into the box.
- Cunha controlled the ball inside a packed penalty area.
- The Brazilian fired past Kepa Arrizabalaga to give Wolves the lead.
Just five minutes earlier, Bournemouth had been reduced to 10 men after:
- Illia Zabarnyi’s reckless sliding tackle on Rayan Ait-Nouri was reviewed by VAR.
- The Ukrainian defender was shown a straight red card for catching Ait-Nouri high on his calf.
Wolves Miss Chances but Hold On for Victory
Wolves had multiple opportunities to extend their lead in the second half:
- Munetsi missed a close-range chance.
- Pedro Lima forced a great save from Kepa.
Despite their wastefulness, Vitor Pereira’s team held firm to secure a crucial three points, boosted by results elsewhere:
- Ipswich Town lost 4-1 to Tottenham.
- Leicester City were thrashed 4-0 by Brentford.
Wolves are now five points clear of both Ipswich and Leicester, while Bournemouth remain fifth, though they could drop to seventh by the end of the weekend.
Data Debrief: Cunha Shines, Munetsi Makes History
- Matheus Cunha scored his 13th goal in 25 Premier League games this season.
- Only Raul Jimenez (17 goals in 2019-20) has scored more for Wolves in a single campaign.
- Marshall Munetsi became the first Wolves player to register a goal involvement on his first Premier League start since Craig Dawson (vs. Liverpool, February 2023).
- Munetsi also became:
- The first Zimbabwean player to record a Premier League goal involvement since Jordan Zemura (Bournemouth, September 2022).
- The first Zimbabwean to assist a winning goal in the league since Benjani (Portsmouth, November 2007 vs. Birmingham City).
Final Thoughts
This hard-fought victory moves Wolves closer to Premier League safety, while Bournemouth will be disappointed with their missed opportunity to strengthen their top-six position.
