Rodrigo Muniz scored a superb chipped goal as Fulham secured a 2-1 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux, reigniting their hopes of European qualification. The win, built on a fast start to both halves, lifts Fulham to ninth in the Premier League.
Fulham, coming off a disappointing performance against Crystal Palace, made a blistering start. Just 59 seconds into the match, Ryan Sessegnon, making his first Premier League start of the season, latched onto an Andreas Pereira through ball and slotted past Jose Sa.
Wolves, however, responded quickly. Joao Gomes, having missed a clear chance moments earlier, equalized in the 18th minute, blasting the ball into the roof of the net.
The pattern repeated itself at the start of the second half. Muniz, starting in place of Raul Jimenez, restored Fulham’s lead just 63 seconds after the restart. He raced onto a perfectly weighted pass from former Wolves player Adama Traore and delicately chipped the ball over the advancing Sa.
Wolves manager Vitor Pereira expressed his frustration after the match: “It’s three points that we waste. It’s time to work, to correct the mistakes, to not sleep in the dressing room because I think we slept in the dressing room and we went into the game sleeping. This cannot happen again.”
Sa prevented Fulham from extending their lead further, denying substitute Raul Jimenez, who also missed another good opportunity. The result leaves Wolves five points above the relegation zone, although Ipswich and Leicester, in 18th and 19th place respectively, could reduce that gap with victories in their games in hand.
Silva’s Changes Pay Off
Fulham manager Marco Silva made five changes to his starting lineup following the defeat to Crystal Palace, a decision that proved crucial. Sessegnon’s early goal justified his inclusion, while Muniz’s decisive strike vindicated his selection ahead of Jimenez.
“It’s not easy to change five players from one game to another,” Silva said. “The reality was we knew we needed some fresh players inside – we need fresh legs because it was going to be another game that demanded high energy. The players that we started the game with, they made an impact, they showed great quality and I am really pleased for them.”
The victory, following impressive wins against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest, keeps Fulham firmly in contention for a European place, sitting just two points behind sixth-placed Newcastle.
Wolves’ Inconsistency Continues
Wolves’ inconsistent form continued with this defeat. Despite recent positive results against Bournemouth and Liverpool, manager Vitor Pereira’s pre-match warning about complacency appeared to go unheeded. Wolves were caught out by quick starts to both halves, highlighting defensive vulnerabilities. While Matheus Cunha was a lively presence in attack, he lacked his usual clinical finishing, missing two notable chances. Wolves need to perform better to maintain distance with relegation zone.
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