Wolves under-21s’ first taste of European football in three seasons began in defeat against Porto at Molineux in the opening group game of the Premier League International Cup.
Having last played in the competition back in 2019/20, James Collins’ side were more than a match for their Portuguese opponents throughout the contest and spurned several opportunities to find the back of the net, which made David Vinhas’ first-half header the crucial difference.
Porto looked in control during the opening stages, but Wolves gradually grew into the game and got a foothold on the tie, with the hosts having a first chance at goal inside the opening ten minutes.
After clever work by Chem Campbell down the left, the ball was cut inside to Dylan Scicluna who held off his man just outside the box before laying a pass into the path of captain Joe Hodge, and although his powerfully driven effort had Roko Runje beaten in the Porto goal, it kissed the base of the post before going behind. Minutes later, Porto forward Umaro Cande hit a wild effort into the South Bank from a good position.
Joe Hodge goes close as his shot kisses the outside of the post! 😩#PLIC pic.twitter.com/hY6MURhGEE
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) November 19, 2022
Midway through the first-half, Wolves came close to open the scoring once again, this time through some individual play from Scicluna. The Australian/Maltese midfielder picked up the ball on the edge of the Porto box and after holding off several blue and white striped shirts, he made space for a shot which flew narrowly wide of Runje’s upright.
However, just moments later, it was the visitors who took the lead. A corner from Rodrigo Ferreira curled dangerously into the Wolves penalty area and after the ball just missed being cut out by Jackson Smith and Michael Agboola, it fell to the head of centre-back Vinhas, who nodded home from close range.
Having fallen behind, the boys in gold and black shirts were determined to get back on level terms. Another long-range effort from Hodge had Runje scrambling, but once again, the Republic of Ireland youth international saw his effort fly narrowly wide, before the Porto keeper got his body behind Ollie Tipton’s goalbound shot from 20 yards.
But Porto were also not content on just their one-goal lead heading into the break and were denied by Smith as the Wolves keeper was called into action to stop Giorgi Abuashvili from close-range after the winger had wriggled his way into the box.
Half-time | Wolves 0 Porto 1
Wolves kept up their pressure after they came back out for the second-half, having made a tactical switch to 4-4-2 by bringing forward Tyler Roberts on for centre-back Agboola, and the flying winger almost made an immediate impact. Seconds after bursting down the right where he was let down by his control, Roberts cut it back to Nathan Fraser whose curling effort just missed the target.
Yet Wolves were again cut open by a quick Porto counter-attack which saw Nilton Lopes race through on goal before lifting his effort over Smith. The ball looked to be heading in, but at the last second, Alfie Pond was able to get back and stop it from crossing the line.
Alfie Pond remains switched on to retrieve the ball off the line 👏#PLIC pic.twitter.com/16g0BfCXya
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) November 19, 2022
Midway through the second-half, tensions were boiling over on the Porto sideline – who were not too happy with referee Steve Copeland – which resulted in the official dishing out a booking to one member of the Portuguese coaching staff before pulling out his red to another, sending him into the stands.
Smith’s blushes were spared with just under 10 minutes remaining after his miss-hit clearance fell to the feet of Rui Monteiro on the edge of the box, but the Porto forward was unable to turn his effort into a goal as he shot straight at the Wolves keeper.
The hosts kept pushing for an equaliser right up until the final whistle and could have got a goal back in the last minute of the 90 as Roberts picked the ball up on the right before cutting inside and curling a shot towards the far post, but fortunately for the Walsall-born winger, his attempt ended up the wrong side of the post.
Into the five added minutes, Campbell had a chance from a free-kick just outside the box, and after the ball rebounded back to him off the wall, his follow up shot deflected wide. Wolves found themselves with one final opportunity from the corner, but it was cleared away by the Porto defence.
Full-time | Wolves 0 Porto 1
COMING UP
Wolves under-21s are in cup mode for the next six weeks, as James Collins’ side quickly turn their attention back to Papa John’s Trophy action on Tuesday night as Manchester United’s U21s head to Molineux in the last 32 of the EFL competition, before the Premier League Cup and PL International Cup resumes.
NEXT FIVE
- 22/11 Manchester United (H) PJT
- 28/11 Sunderland (A) PLC
- 03/12 Cardiff City (A) PLC
- 07/12 Valencia (H) PLIC
- 10/12 Cardiff City (H) PLC
TEAMS
Wolves | Smith, Birtwistle, Agboola (Roberts 46), Pond, Lembikisa, Tipton, Hodge, Scicluna (Hodnett 83), Harkin (Farmer 67), Campbell, Fraser (He 83).
Unused subs | Storer, Keto-Diyawa, Kandola.
Porto | Runje, Ferreira, Vinhas, Freitas, Lopes, Correia, Tavares (Kone 60), Cande (Rodrigues 75), Abuashvili (Monteiro 59), Meireles (Bras 83), Costa.
Unused subs | Cardoso, Marulanda, Mota.
