Wolverhampton Wanderers fell agonizingly short in a 4–3 EFL Cup defeat to ten-man Chelsea at Molineux Stadium.
The hosts trailed 3–0 at the interval but exploded into life after the break, with Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare igniting the fightback just three minutes into the second half.
Hwang Hee-chan won possession high up the pitch and advanced alongside Arokodare before laying it off to the forward.
Arokodare swept home his second goal for the club into the far corner with composure.
The strike galvanized Wolves, who poured forward in search of more.
Centre-back Yerson Mosquera came close to scoring twice but failed to convert.
Wolves’ pressure told as they clawed another goal back. Substitute Jørgen Strand Larsen linked up with Arokodare but was denied by Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jørgensen, with the offside flag rendering the effort moot regardless.
The deficit was halved in dramatic fashion when Wolves capitalised on a long Mosquera throw-in.
Wolves won three successive flick-ons — from Marshall Munetsi, Ladislav Krejčí, and Agbadou — before Wolfe drilled a low, first-time left-footed strike beyond Jørgensen to make it 3–2.
The contest twisted further four minutes from time after Chelsea forward Liam Delap, already booked for clashing with Mosquera, caught Agbadou with an elbow and was sent off.
Yet Chelsea struck immediately on the counter.
Wolves lost possession from their own throw-in, allowing Jamie Gittens to curl a stunning effort with the outside of his foot in off the inside of the post for 4–2.
Wolves refuse to yield
Tosin Adarabioyo and Tolu Arokodare during the EFL Cup match. (Photo | Getty Images)
A long ball into the Chelsea area caused havoc, and after Agbadou kept the move alive, Wolfe hurled himself at the ball to squeeze it over Jørgensen and into the roof of the net.
The hosts pushed relentlessly for a late leveler that never came, but departed with their pride intact after testing Chelsea until the final whistle.
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Post-match, Wolves head coach Vítor Pereira praised Arokodare’s growing influence since his arrival from Belgian side Genk.
“It’s normal because now he has had more training with us,” Pereira said. “His fitness is better now than before, he understands what we need from him, and he is more connected with his teammates. He is ready to help us.”
Arokodare has now scored two goals since joining the English side from Belgian outfit Genk, with both goals coming in the EFL Cup.
Chelsea advance in the competition, but Wolves’ spirited display will provide momentum heading into domestic league action.
