Wolverhampton Wanderers cruised to a commanding 4-1 victory over Fulham in an eventful Matchweek 12 encounter. The visitors made the most of their chances, combining clinical finishing with compact defensive organization. Despite enjoying 59% possession, Fulham struggled to break through Wolves’ disciplined backline, with the visitors converting four of their nine shots into goals.
Momentum Shifts
The match momentum swung heavily in Wolves’ favor after the 20th-minute opener from Alex Iwobi gave Fulham hope. However, Wolves struck back with Matheus Cunha’s equalizer just ten minutes later, which carried an xG of 0.54, setting the tone for their dominance. Goals from Joćo Gomes, another by Cunha, and a late Gonēalo Guedes strike sealed the game for Wolves. Fulham’s inability to sustain momentum in the final third made their 25 touches in Wolves’ box relatively ineffective.
Shots and Goals Breakdown
Wolves demonstrated a clinical edge with an xG of 1.3, significantly outperforming Fulhams xG of 0.8. Their shot map highlights excellent finishing from Matheus Cunha and Joćo Gomes, who capitalized on Fulham’s defensive lapses.
Fulham managed just one goal from Alex Iwobi, despite taking 10 shots. While Wolves only registered nine attempts, five were on target, and four found the back of the net, showcasing their efficiency in front of goal.
Possession and Passing Tactics
Fulham’s pass map emphasizes a reliance on Andreas Pereira and Alex Iwobi to drive forward play, with Joćo Palhinha playing a crucial role in retaining possession. However, their movement lacked penetration in the final third.
In contrast, Wolves’ pass map illustrates a compact midfield triangle featuring Joćo Gomes, Matheus Cunha, and Mario Lemina, who effectively transitioned play to wide areas and into the box. This fluid passing setup created high-quality chances, as evidenced by their superior xG per shot of 0.141 compared to Fulham’s 0.076.
Key Takeaways
This match underlines Wolves’ ability to punch above their weight with decisive finishing and cohesive teamwork. Fulham’s high possession and box entries failed to translate into tangible results, highlighting the need for sharper execution in attacking scenarios. Wolves, meanwhile, continue their ascent with an impressive all-round performance.