3 min read
2nd Oct 2023
Wolves 2 (Chirewa 25, Hubner 37) Leeds United 0
Tawanda Chirewa and Justin Hubner scored first half goals as Wolves under-21s defeated Leeds United at Aggborough.
Wolves fielded a team with five first-team players in as Tom King, Joe Hodge, Santiago Bueno, Nathan Fraser and Enso Gonzalez were all drafted into James Collins’ squad.
It was a strong start from Wolves who went close on five separate occasions in the opening 10 minutes. Fraser glanced a header wide, before having a similar opportunity tipped over the top moments later after Harry Birtwistle had done well to win the ball back and cross.
From the resulting corner, Bueno headed just over as Wolves eyed the opening goal. Shortly after, Owen Hesketh again tested the gloves of Harry Christy with a strike from range, before Gonzalez arrowed one just wide.
Wolves then took a deserved lead on the 25-minute mark following some good work down the left from Hesketh. The midfielder got to the byline and crossed just behind Fraser, but Chirewa was there to capitalise on Leeds’ failure to clear as he smashed home for his first in old gold.
Tawanda Chirewa nets our opening goal #PL2 pic.twitter.com/HaOaQehlxF
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) October 2, 2023
And a second goal arrived little over 10 minutes after the opener, and it came courtesy of captain Hubner. After a set-piece was initially cleared, Hodge picked up the pieces and crossed invitingly for Hubner, who powered a head back across goal to double the advantage.
A second goal of the season for Justin Hubner ✌️#PL2 pic.twitter.com/yip6L02enQ
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) October 2, 2023
Half-time | Wolves 2-0 Leeds
The hosts started the second 45 in the same vein as they ended the first, with Fraser nodding just wide from a Hubner cross and coming close once again.
It didn’t look to be Fraser’s night as the striker met another cross, this time from a free-kick, but found the goalkeeper in the way for the second time.
At the other end, Leeds were provided with the opportunity to reduce the deficit as substitute Bruno Jordao brought down his man in the area. However, Sean McGurk stepped up and fired his penalty high and wide.
The visitors continued pushing and came closer to scoring when Charlie Allen danced his way into a shooting position, before watching his effort curl and rebound off the base of the post.
Birtwistle came close to adding a third late on, but his driven attempt from the right was well-saved by Christy as Wolves conformably secured the three points.
Full-time | Wolves 2-0 Leeds
COMING UP
Wolves under-21s host AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League Cup at the New Bucks Head (Telford) on Friday evening.
NEXT FIVE
- 06/10 Bournemouth (H) PL Cup
- 10/10 Lincoln City (A) EFL Cup
- 16/10 PSV (H) PLIC
- 30/10 Southampton (H)
- 03/11 Nottingham Forest (A)
TEAMS
Wolves | King, Birtwistle, Hubner, Hodge (Jordao 62), S. Bueno, Kandola, Chirewa, Whittingham, Fraser, Hesketh, Gonzalez (Farmer 76).
Subs not used | Young, Kaleta, Keto-Diyawa.
Leeds | Christy, Moore, Ferguson, Monteiro, Mullen, Crew, Allen, Gyabi (Thomas 62), McGurk, Bate, Douglas (Carole 71).
Subs not used | Ombang, Debayo, Coleman.
