Wolves 1 (Verbruggen OG 21) Brighton 1 (van Hecke 86)
Wolves earned another point towards their Premier League tally following a draw at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.
The home side had their noses in front through a first-half Bart Verbruggen own goal, though Marshall Munetsi deserved most of the credit for the strike.
However, it was more late heartbreak for the Old Gold, when Jan Paul van Hecke restored parity just four minutes from time, denying Wolves their first victory of the league campaign.
The opening stages were quiet, with the first noteworthy piece of action arriving when Ferdi Kadioglu forced Sam Johnstone into early action. Kadioglu and Yankuba Minteh linked up well, allowing the former to test Johnstone, but his effort was tame enough for the shot-stopper to deny.
Twenty uneventful minutes passed before the noise levels ramped up inside Molineux. Following Vitor Pereira’s dismissal for kicking a ball towards the dugouts, Munetsi produced a swift response with a thumping volley. The initial effort was tipped onto the crossbar by Verbruggen, but the rebound crashed off the keeper’s back and into the net.
The home side had a chance to double their advantage just minutes later when Ladislav Krejci met Hugo Bueno’s inviting delivery, but Verbruggen was not to be beaten for a second time, tipping the headed effort over the upright.
Wolves’ response to going ahead was confident, as they searched for a second goal while restricting their opponents to half chances. Diego Gomez tried his luck from outside the area, but Johnstone comfortably denied the Paraguayan.
Jhon Arias had the final effort of the first half, when his free-kick from a tight angle nearly caught Verbruggen out at his near post, but the Dutchman did well to cover his ground and make the save.
Half-time | Wolves 1-0 Brighton
Wolves had the first chance of the second half, when a golden opportunity presented itself to Arias. After Strand Larsen’s excellent hold-up play, supporting runs from Hwang and Hugo Bueno linked up well, allowing the latter to play a square ball for the arriving Arias, who ultimately fired over the crossbar.
The Seagulls responded with a chance of their own, but Johnstone’s heroics preserved the lead. Substitute Georginio Rutter peeled off his marker inside the six-yard-box, meeting Minteh’s inswinging delivery with a side-footed effort, but Johnstone reacted superbly to turn the effort around the post for a corner.
Substitutions from both sides changed the complexion of the game for the remaining 20 minutes, with the introductions prompting tactical adjustments. Emmanuel Agbadou signalled a change to a back five for Wolves, while Stefanos Tzimas joined Danny Welbeck up front for the visitors.
Strand Larsen would have thought he put his side two up, when he wriggled his way into the Brighton penalty area, opened up his body, reversed a strike towards the near post, but his low effort agonisingly crashed against the woodwork.
The final 10 minutes were there for either side to seize, and Brighton capitalised on a largely scrappy and uncontrolled second half. Maxim De Cuyper swung in a tempting cross, and van Hecke rose highest to head beyond Johnstone.
Despite Wolves’ persistent search for a late winner, the decisive strike proved elusive.
Full-time | Wolves 1-1 Brighton
Wolves | Johnstone, H Bueno (Wolfe 76), S Bueno, Munetsi (Arokodare 90+1), Andre, J Gomes (Mosquera 90+1), Strand Larsen (Bellegarde 76), Arias, Hwang (Agbadou 60), Krejci, Tchatchoua.
Unused subs | Sa, R Gomes, Hoever, Lopez.
Brighton | Verbruggen, Dunk, van Hecke, Gruda (Tzimas 70), Minteh, Baleba (Rutter 45), Welbeck, Kadioglu, Gomez (Milner 77), Ayari, Wieffer (De Cuyper 70).
Unused subs | Steele, Watson, Kostoulas, Boscagli, Coppola.
