Wolverhampton defeated Gillingham and advanced to the next round.
Wolverhampton won 2-0 against Gillingham in the 4th round of the English Football League Cup (EFL Cup) at 2022-23 held at Moline Stadium in Wolverhampton, England on the 21st at 4:45 am (Korean time).
Wolverhampton operated a 4-3-3 formation. 메이저놀이터 Fodens, Costa, Guedez, Moutinho, Hodge, Neves, Bueno, Kilman, Collins and Semedo started and Jose Saga kept the goal. Hwang Hee-chan waits on the bench. Against this, Gillingham chose a 3-5-2 formation. Mandron, Adelakoon, Alexander, Jeffries, Williams, O’Keefe, Toutonda, Wright, Emmer and Bago started and Turner donned the goalkeeper’s gloves.
[First half] 13 shots → No score , Wolverhampton’s offensive power was frustrating
Wolverhampton fired the first shot. In the 3rd minute of the first half, Bueno caught it from the left and exchanged it with a colleague before firing a left-footed shot, but it was blocked by goalkeeper Turner. Continuing on, Wolverhampton attempted a cross attack after overlapping by Bueno on the left, but was blocked by Gillingham’s defense.
Wolves got a free kick opportunity. In the 34th minute of the first half, Neves hit with his right foot from a free kick opportunity from the front of Gillingham’s arc, but it slightly missed to the left of the goal.
Wolverhampton continued the offensive. In the 37th minute of the first half, a chaotic situation occurred in front of the Gillingham goal, and Fodens’ shot hit the Gillingham defense. Wolverhampton continued to create opportunities. In the 42nd minute of the first half, Geddes crossed from the left and Hodge put his head but it missed to the right.
Luck wasn’t following Wolverhampton. Right before the end of the first half, Neves touched the ball with his right foot in a corner kick situation, but it hit the post. The first half ended 0-0.
[Second half] PK induction + help, Hwang Hee-chan showed off his presence
Wolverhampton made a change with the start of the second half. Coach Lopetegui took out Hodge and put in Traore. Wolverhampton started using the right attack more as Traore was put in.
Hwang Hee-chan was replaced. In the 16th minute of the second half, coach Lopetegui removed Geds and put in Hwang Hee-chan. Then, instead of Moutinho, Nunes appeared on the pitch. Wolverhampton pulled the reins more. In the 22nd minute of the second half, Traore raised a cross from the right, and Costa tried it from the center, but it missed the goal.
Wolverhampton played an all-out war. In the 23rd minute of the second half, Wolverhampton removed Podens and put Himenez in. In the 30th minute of the second half, Nunes kicked the ball and Semedo rushed to it, but goalkeeper Turner blocked it.
Hwang Hee-chan scores a penalty kick. In the 31st minute of the second half, Wolverhampton’s corner kick situation caused a confusion, and Gillingham’s defender pulled Hwang Hee-chan, and Wolverhampton’s penalty kick was declared. Jimenez, who started as a kicker, finished cleanly and scored the opening goal.
Wolverhampton, who went ahead, set out to harden. In the 36th minute of the second half, Costa was removed and Ait-Nuri was put in. Hwang Hee-chan recorded an assist. In the 46th minute of the second half, Hwang Hee-chan calmly connected to Ait-Nuri inside the penalty box, and Ait-Nuri finished it off. Hwang Hee-chan folded the opponent’s defense just before the end and attempted a roving shot, but it went over the goal. In the end, the match ended with a 2-0 Wolverhampton victory.