U21 report | Wolves 0-0 Hertha BSC

Wolves 0 Hertha BSC 0

Wolves under-21s qualified for the knockout stages of the Premier League International Cup for the first time following a goalless draw with Hertha Berlin.

The youngsters in Old Gold were made to do it the hard way following goalkeeper Jimmy Storer’s straight red card after just seven minutes, but Wolves remained resolute and substitute goalkeeper Lewys Benjamin made a number of high-quality saves to ensure passage into the quarter-final as Group A winners.

Wolves were dealt a huge blow inside seven minutes when Storer was shown a straight red card after taking out Mustafa Abdullatif outside of his area. As a result, Leo Lopes was the outfield player sacrificed with Benjamin taking his place in between the sticks as the German side struck the bar from the resulting free-kick.

And the home side had to stand firm to navigate their way through with 10 men as the visitors came close on a couple of occasions. Benjamin did well to palm a long-range effort around the post from Tony Rolke before Veit Stange whistled one right across the face of goal.

Half-time | Wolves 0-0 Hertha

Moments into the second 45, Wolves had Benjamin to thank as the goalkeeper pulled off a tremendous save to claw the ball off the line. Rolke broke the offside trap and crossed over to substitute Pepe Pereira Mendes at the back post, but he was denied as Benjamin came across at full stretch to deny the attacker.

What a save by Lewys Benjamin! The goalkeeper claws the ball off the line! #PLIC pic.twitter.com/t4jzuFZbd8

— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) January 17, 2024

Benjamin made another smart save as Hertha skipper Marlon Morgenstern let fly with a dipping attempt from distance, but the goalkeeper was on his toes to tip the ball over the top.

James Collins’ side were battling well with 10 men and after Luis Trus had arrowed narrowly wide, the head coach made a double change on 65 minutes with Fletcher Holman and Kam Kandola providing the fresh legs as Wolves switched to a back five.

Benjamin needed to be on top form as the visitors continued to probe, but the young goalkeeper had answers for everything. Anderson Lucoqui was the latest to be thwarted as Benjamin tipped over the bar from a left-footed strike from the edge.

And the side from Berlin began to run out of ideas as the hosts continued to remain firm, limiting their opponents to shots from distances as the game ended level.

Full-time | Wolves 0-0 Hertha

COMING UP

Wolves under-21s travel to play AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League Cup on Monday.

NEXT FIVE

• 22/01 AFC Bournemouth (A) PL Cup
• 26/01 Arsenal (H)
• 05/02 Charlton Athletic (A) PL Cup
• 11/02 Man City (A)
• 19/02 West Brom (H)

TEAMS

Wolves | Storer, Kaleta, Keto-Diyawa, Griffiths, Tipton, Pond (Mabete 86), Lopes (Benjamin 7), Whittingham (Esen 86), Chiwome (Holman 65), Barnett, Chirewa (Kandola 65).

Subs not used | Harper, Ashworth.

Hertha | Goller, Morgenstern, Abdullatif, Kizildemir (Sherwood 61), Ben-Hatira, Lucoqui, Stange (Lum 58), Rolke, Silva Kiala (Greber 76), Gottschalk (Mendes 46), Trus.

Subs not used | Mohwinkel, Schickersinsky.