Chelsea 2-4 Wolverhampton Wanderers: Matheus Cunha hat-trick as Wolves stun Blues

Matheus Cunha now has nine goals and six assists in 23 Premier League appearances this season

Matheus Cunha scored a hat-trick as Wolves came from behind to stun Chelsea and replace the Blues in the top half of the Premier League table.

Cole Palmer gave Mauricio Pochettino’s hosts a 19th-minute lead when he calmly slotted past Jose Sa following Moises Caicedo’s defence-splitting pass.

But Wolves levelled less than three minutes later when Cunha’s shot took a significant deflection off Thiago Silva and wrong-footed Djordje Petrovic.

The turnaround was complete shortly before the break, courtesy of another deflected shot, as Rayan Ait-Nouri met Pedro Neto’s cutback and sent the ball in off Axel Disasi.

The home supporters greeted the half-time whistle with boos but Chelsea were unable to produce a fightback of their own, instead falling two goals behind when the electric Neto beat Silva for pace and picked out Cunha for his second.

The Brazilian then completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after being brought down by Malo Gusto, sending Petrovic the wrong way with eight minutes remaining to put the result beyond doubt before Silva headed in a late consolation.

Wolves’ thoroughly deserved victory moved Gary O’Neil’s side up to 10th, one point and one place above Chelsea after 23 games.

Live text commentary of Sunday’s Premier League actionHow did you rate Chelsea’s performance? Have your say hereWhat did you make of Wolves’ display? Send us your views here

O’Neil’s Wolves on the rise

With the added incentive that victory at Stamford Bridge would lift them above Chelsea, Wolves brushed off the disappointment of losing out to a 97th-minute winner in their seven-goal midweek thriller against Manchester United to reach the top half of the table for the first time under O’Neil.

Wolves had not completed a league double over Chelsea since 1974-75, nor had they managed to win at Stamford Bridge in any competition since 1979.

That they brought an end to both of those waits on Sunday, in the manner they did, was the latest evidence of the terrific job O’Neil continues to do in his first season in charge.

There was no shortage of standout performers for the visitors, for whom Neto once again starred and went close to a goal of his own when he forced his way into the penalty area but could not beat Petrovic early in the second half.

Meanwhile, in the absence of top scorer Hwang Hee-chan, Cunha has now been directly involved in 12 goals in Wolves’ last 12 Premier League games – scoring seven.

After Cunha completed his treble, O’Neil, only appointed on the eve of the new season, immediately switched his attention to issuing instructions and refocusing his team.

But he could not hide his delight as he celebrated at full-time with the travelling Wolves fans, who chanted his name throughout a significant win which leaves their sights fixed on the clubs above them.

A week to forget for Chelsea

Four days after being outclassed in a 4-1 midweek defeat at leaders Liverpool, Chelsea were outfought as their 10-match unbeaten home run in all competitions was brought to a painful end.

While there is an acceptance that they are in the early phases of a long-term project under Pochettino, Sunday’s meeting with a Wolves side keen to replace them in the top half was an important one as the hosts sought a positive response.

They made a promising start as Palmer scored his 10th goal in 20 league appearances during an outstanding first season at the club – but it was far from enough.

Hesitant Chelsea passing had already presented Neto and Cunha with early opportunities before the Blues went on to surrender their first-half advantage.

They struggled to create opportunities when chasing the game – a late flurry of chances when already three goals down aside – with Christopher Nkunku in particular starved of service in only his second league start.

The Blues have the same points tally as they did at this stage last season under Graham Potter, who was sacked six games later.

While Pochettino does not currently appear to find himself under the same pressure, the Chelsea fans were clear at full-time that this performance was not acceptable.

Player of the match

Matheus CunhaMatheus Cunha

with an average of 8.68

Chelsea

Squad number20Player namePalmer

Squad number28Player namePetrovic

Squad number6Player nameThiago Silva

Squad number23Player nameGallagher

Squad number18Player nameNkunku

Squad number21Player nameChilwell

Squad number27Player nameGusto

Squad number8Player nameFernández

Squad number42Player nameGilchrist

Squad number2Player nameDisasi

Squad number7Player nameSterling

Squad number25Player nameCaicedo

Squad number17Player nameChukwuemeka

Squad number10Player nameMudryk

Squad number15Player nameJackson

Squad number5Player nameBadiashile

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Squad number12Player nameMatheus Cunha

Squad number7Player namePedro Neto

Squad number8Player nameJoão Gomes

Squad number15Player nameDawson

Squad number20Player nameDoyle

Squad number3Player nameAït-Nouri

Squad number5Player nameLemina

Squad number23Player nameKilman

Squad number22Player nameNélson Semedo

Squad number21Player nameSarabia

Squad number17Player nameBueno

Squad number24Player nameToti

Squad number27Player nameBellegarde

Squad number2Player nameDoherty

Squad number1Player nameJosé Sá

Line-ups

Chelsea

Formation 4-2-3-1

28Petrovic

27Gusto2Disasi6Thiago Silva21Chilwell

25Caicedo8Fernández

20Palmer23Gallagher7Sterling

18Nkunku

28Petrovic27GustoBooked at 31minsSubstituted forGilchristat 81’minutes2Disasi6Thiago Silva21ChilwellBooked at 78minsSubstituted forBadiashileat 81’minutes25CaicedoBooked at 56minsSubstituted forJacksonat 63’minutes8Fernández20Palmer23Gallagher7SterlingSubstituted forMudrykat 72’minutes18NkunkuSubstituted forChukwuemekaat 72’minutesSubstitutes5Badiashile10Mudryk11Madueke13Bettinelli15Jackson17Chukwuemeka31Casadei42Gilchrist47Bergström

Wolves

Formation 3-4-2-1

1Sá

23Kilman15Dawson24Gomes

22Nélson Semedo5Lemina8João Gomes3Aït-Nouri

21Sarabia12Matheus Cunha

7Neto

1Sá23Kilman15Dawson24Gomes22Nélson SemedoBooked at 39mins5Lemina8João GomesSubstituted forDohertyat 90’minutes3Aït-NouriSubstituted forBuenoat 87’minutes21SarabiaSubstituted forDoyleat 72’minutes12Matheus Cunha7NetoBooked at 41minsSubstituted forBellegardeat 72’minutesSubstitutes2Doherty4Bueno17Bueno20Doyle25Bentley27Bellegarde42Griffiths62Chirewa63Fraser

Referee:Tim Robinson

Attendance:39,628

Live Text

Match ends, Chelsea 2, Wolverhampton Wanderers 4.

Second Half ends, Chelsea 2, Wolverhampton Wanderers 4.

Offside, Chelsea. Cole Palmer is caught offside.

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Craig Dawson.

Attempt saved. Carney Chukwuemeka (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Cole Palmer.

Attempt missed. Conor Gallagher (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is too high following a corner.

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Maximilian Kilman.

Foul by Alfie Gilchrist (Chelsea).

Matheus Cunha (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt saved. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Foul by Benoît Badiashile (Chelsea).

Mario Lemina (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt blocked. Conor Gallagher (Chelsea) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Matt Doherty replaces João Gomes.

Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Hugo Bueno replaces Rayan Aït-Nouri.

Goal! Chelsea 2, Wolverhampton Wanderers 4. Thiago Silva (Chelsea) header from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Mykhailo Mudryk with a cross following a corner.

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Nélson Semedo.

Goal! Chelsea 1, Wolverhampton Wanderers 4. Matheus Cunha (Wolverhampton Wanderers) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.

Substitution, Chelsea. Benoît Badiashile replaces Ben Chilwell.

Substitution, Chelsea. Alfie Gilchrist replaces Malo Gusto.

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