It was another grim afternoon for Wolves fans at Molineux, as Bournemouth left the Black Country with a 2-0 win that celebrated both experience and youth.
While the home side struggled to convert chances, Andoni Iraola marked his 100th Premier League game in charge of the Cherries with a performance that showcased his squad’s growing depth.
The match started with Wolves on the front foot, pressing hard and creating early openings.
But Bournemouth weathered the storm, and on 33 minutes, 19-year-old Eli Kroupi Jr lit up the pitch with a stunning long-range strike that left the Wolves goalkeeper helpless.
From there, the momentum shifted decisively in favor of the visitors.
In stoppage time, Alex Scott calmly side-footed home a second goal into an open net, sending the 1,800 Bournemouth fans in the Stan Cullis Stand into raptures.
Wolves supporters, frustrated by yet another disappointing display, began leaving well before the final whistle.
Eli Kroupi Jr Emerges as Semenyo’s Successor
Bournemouth fans had reason to worry when Antoine Semenyo left for Manchester City, having scored 32 goals in 110 appearances and established himself as the team’s talisman.
But Eli Kroupi Jr is showing all the signs of stepping into those big shoes.
Playing in a No. 10 role, Kroupi was a constant threat to Wolves’ defense.
His decisive moment came with a half-volley from the edge of the box that flew past Jose Sa, sparking an exuberant celebration despite the hostile chants from the home fans.
This was Kroupi’s eighth Premier League goal of the season, already more than any other teenager in England’s top flight.
He was substituted on 70 minutes for Rayan, the club-record signing making his debut without a hint of nerves.
Iraola clearly has exciting talent at his disposal, with the youngster’s flair hinting at a bright future for the Cherries.
Wolves’ Struggles Continue at Home
Despite pre-match optimism from manager Rob Edwards, Wolves were unable to hold onto early promise.
Mateus Mane thought he had opened the scoring with a header, only for it to be ruled offside.
From that point on, Bournemouth’s improvement brought audible groans from the Molineux crowd.
A series of careless passes, notably from Hee Chan Hwang and Andre, allowed Bournemouth to take the lead.
Scott sealed the victory late on when Wolves again surrendered possession at the back.
The final whistle revealed a stadium half-empty, with the remaining fans venting their frustrations as players trudged off, heads bowed.
Even with glimpses of form earlier this season, Wolves’ relegation now feels like a matter of “when,” rather than “if.”
Strand Larsen Could Be Saying Goodbye
In the second half, Jorgen Strand Larsen replaced Hwang, joining Tolu Arokodare in a two-striker setup.
Both forwards, however, struggled to find the net, squandering clear opportunities to bring Wolves back into the match.
Strand Larsen led the team in an apologetic lap of the stadium after the game, applauding the fans who stayed behind.
If this was his farewell, Wolves now face the challenge of finding a replacement who can make an impact in the front line.
Match Facts
Wolves (5-3-2): Jose Sa 5, Hugo Bueno 6, Emmanuel Agbadou 5, Yerson Mosquera 6, Santiago Bueno 6, Rodrigo Gomes 7, Joao Gomes 5, Andre 5, Hee Chan Hwang 4, Mateus Mane 7, Tolu 6
Subs: Strand Larsen 5, Bellegarde 5, Arias 5, Moller Wolfe 5
Manager: Rob Edwards 6
Bournemouth (4-3-3): Djordje Petrovic 5, Adrien Truffert 6, James Hill 6, Marcos Senesi 6, Alex Jimenez 6, Adam Smith 6, Alex Scott 8, Lewis Cook 7, Amine Adli 6, Eli Kroupi Jr 7, Evanilson 6
Subs: Rayan 7, Christie 7, Unal 6, Toth 6, Diakite 5
Manager: Andoni Iraola 7
Looking Ahead
Bournemouth will hope to build on this momentum as Iraola’s men continue their climb up the table, while Wolves must regroup quickly if they are to avoid the looming threat of relegation.
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