Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday won for just the second time in the English Premier League this season as Joao Gomes inspired a shock 2-0 victory against Aston Villa.
Joao Gomes grabbed his first league goal this season in the second half before Rodrigo Gomes finished off lackluster Villa at rain-lashed Molineux.
With third-placed Villa well below their best, Rob Edwards’ bottom of the table side were able to celebrate three points for the first time since beating West Ham United in early January.
Photo: Reuters
Sitting 14 points from safety with only nine matches left, Wolves’ first win in nine league games is unlikely to spark a late escape from relegation.
The west midlands derby victory was still a sweet moment for the Wolves faithful as it dented their rivals’ bid to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
It also ensured Wolves would avoid setting a new record-low Premier League points total.
Their 13 points so far this season surpassed the record low 11 points accrued by Derby in 2007-2008.
“Really proud, that’s why I came here, nights like that, to connect with the supporters like that,” Edwards said. “I know we are in a difficult position, but I love football like that, it’s brilliant.”
Villa are six points clear of fifth-placed Chelsea and sixth-placed Liverpool in the race to earn Champions League qualification, with a top five finish likely to achieve that target.
However, Unai Emery’s spluttering side have won just twice in their last eight league matches.
Villa’s next two top-flight games are to be crucial as they host Chelsea and travel to fourth-placed Manchester United.
“In the second half Wolves were winning more balls, and they got into our box. When they scored, it was more and more difficult for us,” Emery said. “Now is the moment to be together and to understand how we are where we are. Today we did not achieve what we needed, but it is still in our hands to get into a top position.”
Despite scoring just once in his previous 10 games, Ollie Watkins started as Villa’s striker instead of Tammy Abraham, who had netted twice in his last two games since arriving from Besiktas JK.
Watkins’ lack of confidence was laid bare when his tentative touch allowed Yerson Mosquera to block before he could get a shot away after Morgan Rogers’ superb pass sent him clear on goal.
Villa’s profligacy was not restricted to Watkins as Pau Torres headed wastefully wide moments later.
With the rain coming down even harder in the second half, Villa struggled to establish any rhythm on the saturated pitch.
Wolves kept their footing well enough to take the lead in the 61st minute.
Jackson Tchatchoua’s cross found Adam Armstrong in the Villa area and his touch set up Gomes for a fine finish that flashed past Emiliano Martinez into the roof of the net.
Referencing their likely relegation, Wolves fans cheekily taunted Villa with chants of “1-0 to the Championship.”
Emery responded by sending on Abraham and Ian Maatsen, who immediately squandered a chance with a shot that Jose Sa parried.
Encapsulating Villa’s wretched evening, Amadou Onana’s stoppage-time shot was clear off the line by Mosquera.
Just moments later, Rodrigo Gomes delivered the knockout blow, slotting home after Joao Gomes’ shot was blocked with Villa’s defense in disarray.
Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev was the only athlete to “beat” a world record on Sunday at the Enhanced Games, winning the men’s 50m freestyle at the divisive competition where athletes were free to take performance-enhancing substances. His time of 20.81 seconds — which is not considered official — came in the final event of the night in Las Vegas, sparing the blushes of organizers who made claims that multiple world records would be surpassed due to a sophisticated doping regime. Gkolomeev, who was wearing a synthetic “supersuit” long banned at events such as the Olympics, outpaced Australia’s Cameron McEvoy’s 20.88 set in
Fred Kerley is competing unaugmented against drug-fuelled athletes at this weekend’s Enhanced Games and still hopes to race in the 2028 Olympics, the suspended former 100m world champion said on Friday. Arguably the biggest name at the divisive event in Las Vegas, where doping is permitted, the US sprinter said he had chosen not to take any of the banned substances including testosterone and steroids that his competitors have been using. “I don’t need it. God gave me fast feet for a reason. And I’m here to showcase my talent,” Kerley said. Kerley last September became the first US competitor and first track
VICTORY ABROAD: The team took home a fistful of medals and secured spots for the autumn’s Asian Games, scheduled for September in Nagoya Taiwan’s women’s team captured the overall title at the Asian Taekwondo Championships in Mongolia on Sunday, finishing with two golds, one silver and one bronze medal. The strong showing, led by gold medalists Wang Chieh-ling and Chang Jui-en secured the full quota of available spots for Taiwan at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, in September. Wang opened Taiwan’s medal run by winning gold in the women’s under-46kg class on Thursday, the first day of competition. Liu Yu-yun later earned a silver in the under-49kg class. On the final day on Sunday, Chang won Taiwan’s second gold medal in the under-62kg event, and
The manager of the Yomiuri Giants, one of Japan’s most popular baseball teams, resigned yesterday after he was arrested for allegedly physically attacking his teenage daughter. Shinnosuke Abe allegedly grabbed the 18-year-old and forced her to the floor at their home in central Tokyo on Monday evening, reported national broadcaster NHK and Kyodo News, citing unnamed police sources. “Leaving like this really means I’m causing you a lot of trouble, and I feel truly sorry about that,” Abe told a hastily arranged news conference, his eyes red with tears. The former star catcher, who is among baseball-obsessed Japan’s most recognized sports figures,
RSS