Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth emerged as 4-2 victors against hosts Wolverhampton Wanderers' on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League, winning for the first time in three games.
Justin Kluivert opened the scoring in the third minute from the penalty spot after striker Evanilson was brought down by Toti Gomes, but the home side equalised just two minutes later thanks to Jorgen Strand Larsen, who headed home from following Jean-Ricner Bellegarde's exceptional cross into the box from the right flank.
However, Gary O'Neil's Wolves conceded again in the eighth minute after a rampaging run from left-back Milos Kerkez, who charged into 18-yard box, latching onto Marcus Tavernier's through ball and striking into the top-left corner.
Kluivert dispatched his second penalty of the game into the left of the net in the 18th minute after Jose Sa clipped the ankles of Evanilson, who snuck in front of the unaware goalkeeper before being fouled, and the goalscorer would dispatch his third penalty in the 74th minute just five minutes after Strand Larsen netted his second of the match.
Wolves started the day in 17th place with nine points and the defeat means they are now in 18th place, though they are at least level on points with 17th-placed Crystal Palace.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth rise from 13th place to 11th place with 18 points and are only two points and seventh-placed Brentford.
Kluivert demonstrated great composure to score his first penalty, with the forward waiting for Sa to move before sweeping the ball into the right side of the net, sending the goalkeeper in the wrong direction.
Wolves' goal came about thanks to good work from Matheus Cunha and Bellegarde on the right wing, but the Cherries will be disappointed that they failed to defend Strand Larsen considering he was able to dart into the space between the visitors' two centre-backs.
However, Kerkez ran at pace into the box and struck excellently into the top-left corner to restore Bournemouth's lead, demonstrating his immense potential as an offensive threat from left-back.
Strand Larsen benefitted from the pace of substitute Goncalo Guedes, who raced into the final third in the 69th minute and played a subtle pass toward the right side of the box, before the goalscorer's strike was deflected into the back of the net by Illia Zabarnyi.
Any joy proved to be short lived when Kluivert completed his hat-trick after Evanilson was once again fouled by Sa in the box, and Kluivert made no mistake from the spot, shooting down the middle.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS VS. BOURNEMOUTH HIGHLIGHTS
3rd min: Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-1 Bournemouth (Justin Kluivert)
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Evanilson latches onto a long pass and takes the ball into the box but is brought down by Toti Gomes, and Justin Kluivert strokes the ball into the right of the net and sends Jose Sa the wrong way.
What a composed penalty!
5th min: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 Bournemouth (Jorgen Strand Larsen)
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Matheus Cunha and Bellegarde work the ball to the right flank, and despite several Bournemouth defenders getting back in time, nobody picks up the run of Jorgen Strand Larsen, who heads a cross into the floor that sees the ball bounce into the left corner.
The lead didn't last long!
8th min: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-2 Bournemouth (Milos Kerkez)
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The Cherries work the ball to Marcus Tavernier in the left half-space just in front of the penalty area, and the forward plays a pass to left-back Milos Kerkez, who charges into the box and strikes ferociously into the top-left corner.
18th min: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-3 Bournemouth (Justin Kluivert)
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Evanilson picks the pockets of Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa before his ankles are clipped by the Portuguese, and Kluivert steps up and converts his second penalty into the left side this time around.
What on earth is happening?
69th min: Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-3 Bournemouth (Jorgen Strand Larsen)
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Substitute Goncalo Guedes races away into Bournemouth's half following a long pass from midfield, and despite being tackled, Guedes comes away with the ball and passes into the right side of the box to Strand Larsen, who shoots from close range and scores his second.
Can Wolves make a comeback?
74th min: Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-4 Bournemouth (Justin Kluivert)
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Evanilson pounces on a poor pass by Craig Dawson to Sa, and the goalkeeper once again fouls the striker, and Kluivert once again converts from the penalty spot.
No - Wolves will not be making a comeback!
MAN OF THE MATCH - EVANILSON
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While Justin Kluivert could have easily been awarded the man of the match award, Evanilson deserves credit for his role in winning all three penalties.
The striker was a thorn in the side of goalkeeper Jose Sa, who fouled the forward twice, but the Brazilian showcased his intelligence to win each of the three spot kicks.
Evanilson also contested 17 duels in the match, and not only was this the joint highest figure of any player on the pitch, he also won 11 of those battles, which was also the joint most of any player.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS VS. BOURNEMOUTH MATCH STATS
Possession: Wolverhampton Wanderers 60%-40% Bournemouth
Shots: Wolverhampton Wanderers 10-12 Bournemouth
Shots on target: Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-8 Bournemouth
Corners: Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-4 Bournemouth
Fouls: Wolverhampton Wanderers 13-11 Bournemouth
BEST STATS
2 - Justin Kluivert has scored two penalties for Bournemouth in the opening 18 minutes against Wolves - it's the earliest a team has scored twice from the spot from the start of a Premier League match. Mayhem. pic.twitter.com/wmMthOO9AW
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 30, 2024
3 - Wolves v Bournemouth is the first Premier League game to see three goals in the opening eight minutes since Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur in October 2020. Crazy.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 30, 2024
1 - Justin Kluivert is the first player in Premier League history to score a hat-trick of penalties in a single match, with teammate Evanilson also the first to win three penalties in the same game in the competition. Spotted. pic.twitter.com/KTDO4CYH0T
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 30, 2024
WHAT NEXT?
Wolves will take on Everton at Goodinson Park on December 4 in the Premier League before facing West Ham United on December 9.
As for Bournemouth, they will believe that they can take advantage of an inconsistent Tottenham Hotspur side on December 5, and will hope they can also beat Ipswich Town on December 8.
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