Wolves 3 (Barnett 22, Edozie 81, Reynolds 90+4) Dinamo Zagreb 3 (Andric 20, Majic 35, Menalo 87)
Substitute Fabian Reynolds scored within seconds of coming on to snatch a 94th minute equaliser for Wolves under-21s against Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday evening.
The Croatian outfit led on three separate occasions in the Premier League International Cup tie at Aggborough, but James Collins’ side fought back through Ty Barnett, Tom Edozie and Reynolds to take a point from the six-goal thriller.
Wolves had the best of the chances early on when Pedro Lima, who started at right-back, delivered a cross to Leo Lopes, but his header at the back post was nodded down into the ground and over the top.
The visitors then took the lead on the 20-minute as Ante Susak’s cross from the left was right on the money for Petar Andric to head home past Lewys Benjamin.
However, the lead lasted little longer than two minutes as the Old Gold responded through Barnett. After Fletcher Holman had been played in down the left flank, the striker crossed low for Barnett to tap in the equaliser from close range.
Just the response 💪 pic.twitter.com/5FE2SxXzEK
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) October 29, 2024
Lima came close to giving Wolves the lead when the Brazilian jinked his way down the right-hand side before flashing just high and wide of Antonio Rajic’s goal.
Zagreb went ahead for the second time on the night when the visitors won the ball back in the Wolves half and pounced. Luka Menalo was the instigator as he fought well before giving it to Andric who then picked out Toni Majic to fire across goal and into the far corner with his left boot.
The home side almost levelled again when Alfie Pond met a Matty Whittingham free-kick, but his header was tipped over the top by Rajic.
Half-time | Wolves 1-2 Dinamo Zagreb
Whittingham nipped in early into the second period to win the ball high, reading a pass to intercept before playing in Holman, however a retreating defender did well to take the ball off the boot of the striker before he was able to get a shot away.
After scoring earlier in the game, Majic forced Benjamin into a smart low save at his near post after the number 10 had shifted the ball onto his left and looked to sneak one in.
Collins made use of his substitutes bench throughout the second period, making a double switch on two separate occasions, as Harvey Griffiths, Ethan Sutherland, Dani Angel and Wes Okoduwa were all introduced.
And, with nine minutes to play, the Old Gold found another leveller as Finn Ashworth found space inside the area before playing it across for Edozie to sweep home for 2-2.
But, with 87 minutes on the clock, the game took another turn in favour of Zagreb when Josid Brundic’s defence-splitting pass was latched onto by skipper Menalo who rounded Benjamin and slotted into an empty net.
However, Wolves weren’t done there and two minutes into eight added on, Collins made his fifth and final change with Reynolds entering the fray. And within two minutes of coming on, the Jamaican made the desired impact, curling the ball into the far corner after being teed up by Angel to net a dramatic third equaliser on the evening.
The hosts thought they were going to take all three points when Ethan Sutherland’s header back across goal looked destined to be tapped in by Angel, but he was denied at the last as the game ended all square in Kidderminster.
Full-time | Wolves 3-3 Dinamo Zagreb
Fabian Reynolds to the rescue 🇯🇲 pic.twitter.com/tUM00NQWzu
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) October 29, 2024
COMING UP
Wolves under-21s travel to face Liverpool in Premier League 2 on Saturday afternoon.
NEXT THREE
- 02/11 Liverpool (A)
- 06/11 Oldham Athletic (A) National League Cup
- 12/11 Salford City (A) BSM Trophy
TEAMS
Wolves | Benjamin, Lima (Okoduwa 76), Voice, Ojinnaka, Pond (Griffiths 64), Ashworth, Barnett, Whittingham, Holman (Angel 75), Edozie (Reynolds 90+2), Lopes (Sutherland 65).
Subs not used | Amos, Mabete.
Dinamo Zagreb | Rajic, Kerin (jahic 84), Susak, Lagancic, Ruskovacki, Al Taha, Pavlak (Putica 46) (Ladan 57), Brundic, Andric (Kunert 76), Majic (Vlahovic 76), Menalo.
Subs not used | Blazevic, Becirovic.
