Brighton 3 (Baleba 14, Adingra 31, Kadioglu 85) Wolves 2 (Guedes 44, Doyle 90+1)
Wolves made their exit from the Carabao Cup down on the south coast, despite a spirited second half showing at Brighton & Hove Albion.
Like on Sunday, there were positives on show in the Old Gold’s performance, but they made life tough from the moment Carlos Baleba and Simon Adingra curled home low from outside of the box in the opening 31 minutes.
Wolves’ first goal of the night was a fine team move, finished off when Matt Doherty laid off for Goncalo Guedes. Much of the second period was then spent chasing the game, but the crucial moment of quality evaded Gary O’Neil’s side, who conceded a third to Ferdi Kadioglu.
With time running out, Tommy Doyle impressively curled home off the underside of the crossbar, but no final moment of drama would follow, as Wolves’ Carabao Cup journey ended at the Amex.
The cup tie offered ten members of O’Neil’s squad opportunities to impress, in particular Alfie Pond, making his first senior appearance for the club, 13 months after his previous appearance in the same competition. He watched on as Jose Sa’s first save of the game was comfortable, denying Evan Ferguson early on.
Wolves’ first opening came through youngster Pedro Lima, after Guedes had lost his footing when leading an attack, but the Brazilian’s effort was blocked by the retreating Brighton defenders.
Joao Gomes had been the only player to retain his shirt from the weekend, but it was the Brazilian who was caught in possession for the opening goal. After Wolves had successfully played their way out of trouble, Baleba robbed Gomes of possession and then curled low into the bottom corner, beyond the reach of Sa.
Searching for that equaliser, Guedes then twice came close for the visitors, debuting their new black away. Firstly, the Portuguese headed over a cross from Rodrigo Gomes, before his cleanly struck effort was turned over the bar by Luke Steele.
However, despite that positive period of play, Wolves fell further behind on 32 when Adingra came inside, beyond Lima and Santiago Bueno, before curling low into the bottom corner, beyond Sa.
That could have been that down on the south coast, but Wolves rallied to give themselves a fighting chance after the break. Doherty led the attack, carrying his side forward and feeding Rodrigo, whose return pass took the left-back to the byline and Doherty’s cut back allowed Guedes to get his body around the ball and side foot home, via the help of a deflection.
Half-time | Brighton 2-1 Wolves
Wolves struck just before the break and should have been level straight after. Instantly from kick off Guedes sent Rodrigo in on goal, slightly to the left, but his touch sent him wider than he would have liked, meaning his effort lacked power, making it easy for Steele to save.
That was the start of a positive opening to the second half, which Guedes was constantly involved in. He put fired two dangerous balls across the face of goal which deserved more, with Steele denying Pablo Sarabia from the second, and more dangerous, delivery.
A triple substitution on the hour only further intensified Wolves’ threat and when the fresh Nelson Semedo fired across goal for Hee Chan Hwang, Adam Webster’s intervention was heading into his own net before Jack Hinshelwood hacked off the line.
The Old Gold were getting closer and when Semedo slipped Rodrigo through, he had the vision to lay off for Guedes, but as he aimed towards the gap at the near post, he dragged his effort wide of the mark to set the Seagulls off the hook.
Wolves had been dominating the half, but that final ball continued to evade them, so when a rare Brighton flurry forward resulted in the third goal it felt a kick in the teeth. Substitute Danny Welbeck had got the wrong side of Semedo and when his shot was parried by Sa, it fell invitingly for Kadioglu to turn home into an empty net.
The Old Gold did at least create the ending a tight tie deserved when Steele gifted the ball to Jorgen Strand Larsen inside his own box. The Norwegian waited for support and laid off for Doyle, who still had plenty to do and swept home off the underside of the bar for. But no final chance would arrive, and Wolves made their cup exit.
Full-time | Brighton 3-2 Wolves
Brighton | Steele, Hinshelwood, Webster, Julio, Estupinan, Minteh (Kadioglu 82), Moder (Ayari 71), Baleba (Wieffer 63), Adingra, Ferguson (Welbeck 63), Enciso (Lamptey 82).
Unused subs | Verbruggen, Dunk, Mitoma, Veltman.
Wolves | Sa, Doherty, Bueno, Pond, Lima (Semedo 64), Doyle, J Gomes (Lemina 64), Sarabia (Forbs 63), Hwang (Cunha 71), R Gomes, Guedes (Strand Larsen 82).
Unused subs | King, Dawson, Andre, Cundle.
