Odsonne Edouard scored twice as Crystal Palace defeated Wolves in a tense Premier League encounter.
Edouard scored after getting in between two Wolves defenders to convert Tyrick Mitchell’s wonderful cross.
Hwang Hee-chan, a Wolves replacement, equalized six minutes after entering the pitch, landing on the end of a free kick from Pedro Neto.
But, just minutes after being denied from a free-kick by Wolves keeper Jose Sa, Eberechi Eze slipped home from Jean-Philippe Mateta’s knock down.
Edouard then paired with Mateta to execute a calm slotted finish.
In additional time, Matheus Cunha scored from close range, but the points were already on their way to Palace.
“He’s [Mateta] not only good at holding the ball up, he’s very skilful, very technical, and he can score goals, and that’s exactly what he did today,” Palace manager Roy Hodgson said on BBC Match of the Day.
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Slow beginnings succeed.
Hodgson’s team has struggled to score in the first half of all four Premier League games this season.
Goals had been hard to come by for Palace, who had only scored two in their first three league games.
After a scoreless first half, Palace came alive as Edouard scored just before the hour mark.
Eze then scored after combining with Mateta, whose magnificent backheel gave Edouard his second of the game – and his first Palace league double since scoring two against Tottenham Hotspur on his debut two years ago.
Mateta had two assists off the bench and his link-up play with Eze and Edouard offers Palace supporters cause to be optimistic.
Hodgson commented on Mateta’s performance, saying, “His hold-up play was good, his attempts to play people in and around the penalty area were very good, and he scored an excellent goal.”
Wolves are too late.
Wolves are not renowned for being especially productive in front of goal, despite their 5-0 win against League One Blackpool in the EFL Cup on Tuesday.
They had more opportunities in the first half but couldn’t convert them.
Pedro Neto looked lively at times, weaving his way past the Palace defense until his attempt was pushed over by Palace goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.
But it wasn’t until Hwang was introduced that Wolves got on the board.
They did got into the game more after Palace scored, but Cunha’s late header was only a consolation – adding to Wolves’ misery as they enter the international break with just three points.
“Standing on the sidelines, it wasn’t a game that I thought we were going to lose,” Wolves manager Gary O’Neil told BBC Match of the Day. I felt we had a solid handle on it.
“Obviously, we blew some big chances due to our own mistakes, such as technical breakdowns with the ball and turnovers, and they punished us.”
“It was a big improvement today, and now we need to push the lads hard to get every little drop out of them in the final third, because that’s where you make a big difference.”
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