Wolves 1 (Olagunju 52) Monaco 1 (Bamba 12)
Saheed Olagunju scored on his under-21s debut as Wolves got their Premier League International Cup campaign underway with a 1-1 draw against Monaco.
Following flooding at Telford United forcing the game to be postponed on Thursday, the two sides met at Compton Park on Friday morning.
And on his first outing for James Collins’ side, defender Olagunju was on hand to secure a point for the Old Gold, cancelling out Aladji Bamba’s first half opener.
Lewys Benjamin was the star of the first half for Wolves, making several crucial saves for his side. The first of those came when Lucas Michal was played in behind the defence and prodded towards goal, before Benjamin stuck out a glove to magnificently tip the ball over the top.
However, from the resulting short corner, Nazim Babai’s cross was met by the head of Bamba who nodded down into the ground and found the net via a deflection on the line.
The visitors dominated the opening 45 minutes, with Benjamin called into action again, this time saving low following a long-range effort while he also had to be alert at his near post later in the half.
Half-time | Wolves 0-1 Monaco
Despite finding it difficult to venture out of their own half in the first 45, Wolves responded well in the second and were on level terms shortly after the restart as Olagunju found himself in space on the edge of the box and fired into the net to equalise for his side.
Monaco looked to regain the lead as goal scorer Bamba worked his way around the outside of Olagunju before cutting the ball back for substitute Amal Boura but, fortunately for Wolves, he opened up his body and diverted his effort wide of the mark.
Collins’ side enjoyed a much more competitive second half and thought they were going to go ahead when Yanis Benchaouch was put under pressure by substitutes Mateus Mane and Josh Esen, before the latter robbed the ball high up and watched his deflected effort agonisingly loop over the goalkeeper before being cleared off the line.
Some late Monaco pressure meant Wolves had to stand firm, as a shot from Boura on the edge was deflected and gratefully into the gloves of Benjamin, meaning a share of the spoils at Compton.
Full-time | Wolves 1-1 Monaco
COMING UP
Wolves under-21s travel to face Derby County in Premier League 2 on Monday evening.
NEXT THREE
- 30/09 Derby (A)
- 04/10 Everton (H)
- 08/10 Wrexham (A) BSM Trophy
TEAMS
Wolves | Benjamin, Okoduwa, Voice, Mabete, Olagunju, Ashworth (Farmer 85), Barnett (Esen 66), Whittingham, Holman (Mane 74), Lopes (Edozie 66), Sutherland (White 46).
Subs not used | Amos, Igbinoghene.
Monaco | Benchaouch, Babai, Platret, Nibombe, Kiwa, Cabral, Bamba, Baranik, Tincres, Bouabre, Michal.
Subs | Bery, Eser, Boura, Dembaga, Zadi, Etonde, Awragh.
