Hwang Hee-chan (28, Wolverhampton) missed two consecutive matches while Wolverhampton secured a valuable victory.
Wolverhampton defeated West Ham United 1-0 in a home match of the 30th round of the 2024-2025 English Premier League held at Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton, England, on the 2nd (Korea time). The team recorded its second consecutive win in the league, maintaining 17th place.
Hwang Hee-chan, who was listed on the bench, did not ultimately play in the game. He also missed the previous match.
Wolverhampton and West Ham faced off in a 3-4-2-1 formation.
Wolverhampton positioned Larsen at the front, with Belleghard and Mounetzi in the second line. The midfield was managed by Ayat-Nuri, Andre, João Gomes, and Semedo, while the defense was composed of Toti Gomes, Agbadou, and Doherty. The goal was guarded by Saga.
West Ham started with Ferguson as the lone striker, supported by Guillerme and Bowen. In the midfield were Wan-Bissaka, Paquetá, Ward-Prowse, and Skals. The defense included Mavropanos, Kilman, and Cresswell, while Areola donned the goalkeeper gloves.
The early stages of the match were tightly contested. In the 12th minute of the first half, West Ham's Ward-Prowse attempted a right-footed shot from a free-kick opportunity but sent it over the crossbar.
Wolverhampton responded immediately. In the 16th minute of the first half, Ayat-Nuri's cross was connected with a header from Toti Gomes, but it was blocked by the goalkeeper.
In the 21st minute of the first half, Wolverhampton scored the opening goal. Larsen's left-footed shot from outside the penalty box struck the corner of the goal. Then, in the 27th minute of the first half, Mounetzi missed another scoring opportunity, hitting the post.
In the second half, West Ham made substitutions, bringing in Soler, Alvarez, and Fueklurk for Cresswell, Ferguson, and Guillerme, aiming to shift the momentum. In the 8th minute of the second half, Fueklurk attempted a left-footed shot but missed the goal, and Wolverhampton also saw Belleghard's shot go wide of the net.
Wolverhampton faced an injury situation in the 26th minute of the second half. Andre complained of pain and left the field, with Sarabia substituted in. Afterward, West Ham also attempted changes by bringing in Soucek and Emerson for Ward-Prowse and Skals in the 32nd minute of the second half. However, they could not change the flow of the match.
The match ended in a 1-0 victory for Wolverhampton without additional goals.
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