Wolves stage remarkable comeback with Cunha hat-trick to defeat Chelsea

Matheus Cunha secured a hat-trick, leading Wolves to come from behind and surprise Chelsea, consequently displacing the Blues in the upper half of the Premier League standings.

In the 19th minute, Mauricio Pochettino’s side took the lead through Cole Palmer, calmly slotting past Jose Sa following Moises Caicedo’s defense-splitting pass.

However, Wolves swiftly equalized less than three minutes later as Matheus Cunha’s shot deflected significantly off Thiago Silva, catching Djordje Petrovic off guard.

The comeback was sealed just before halftime with another deflected shot; Rayan Ait-Nouri met Pedro Neto’s cutback, and the ball went in off Axel Disasi.

Despite boos from the home supporters at halftime, Chelsea couldn’t mount a comeback. Instead, they fell further behind when Neto’s pacey run left Silva trailing, and he set up Cunha for his second goal.

Cunha completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after being fouled by Malo Gusto, making it 4-0 and securing the victory for Wolves with eight minutes remaining.

Silva managed to score a late consolation goal, but Wolves’ well-deserved win moved them to 10th place, one point and one position above Chelsea after 23 games.

O’Neil’s Wolves on the rise

With the added motivation of surpassing Chelsea in the standings, Wolves overcame the disappointment of a midweek loss to Manchester United, where they conceded a 97th-minute winner in a seven-goal thriller.

This victory at Stamford Bridge marked their ascent into the top half of the table for the first time under O’Neil.

Wolves had not achieved a league double over Chelsea since the 1974-75 season, and their last win at Stamford Bridge in any competition dated back to 1979. Sunday’s triumph, breaking both those streaks, showcased O’Neil’s impressive work in his inaugural season in charge.

The visitors boasted numerous standout performers, with Neto shining once again. He came close to adding another goal when he penetrated the penalty area but couldn’t beat Petrovic early in the second half.

In the absence of leading scorer Hwang Hee-chan, Cunha has now contributed to 12 goals in Wolves’ last 12 Premier League games, scoring seven himself.

Following Cunha’s goal, O’Neil, who took charge just before the start of the season, promptly shifted his focus to giving instructions and redirecting his team’s efforts as they widened their lead in the second half.

At full-time, he couldn’t conceal his joy as he celebrated with the Wolves supporters, who consistently chanted his name. This significant victory positions their aspirations towards the teams higher up in the standings.