Wolverhampton Wanderers claimed a crucial 1-0 victory against Bournemouth on the south coast, with Matheus Cunha scoring the decisive goal. The match took a dramatic turn in the 31st minute when Bournemouth's Illia Zabarnyi received a red card after a VAR review overturned the initial yellow card decision. This win moved Wolves five points clear of the relegation zone, while Bournemouth's missed opportunity to move into the Premier League's top four may impact their Champions League qualification hopes.
The turning point of the match came when Zabarnyi was sent off, leaving Bournemouth to play with ten men. Just five minutes later, Cunha found the back of the net, marking his 13th league goal of the season and scoring in his fourth consecutive game across all competitions. His performance highlights his importance to Wolves, especially with a new contract that includes a release clause of over £60 million set to activate in the summer.
Despite the numerical advantage, Wolves struggled to capitalize further in the second half. Bournemouth failed to register a shot on target in this period, yet Wolves were unable to extend their lead. Marshall Munetsi, one of Wolves' three winter window signings, had a commendable debut but missed a significant opportunity to finish the game off.
Bournemouth's head coach, Andoni Iraola, expressed his dissatisfaction with the VAR decision that led to Zabarnyi's dismissal. He criticized the VAR process for showing what he believed was the worst angle among six available views.
"I don't understand the process and the consequences of the red card. The process, the referee sees it live at normal speed, in the perfect spot. He takes the decision of a foul and a yellow card. The VAR to intervene has to be clear and obvious," said Iraola.
Wolves' manager Vitor Pereira lauded his team's composure and highlighted Cunha's contribution as pivotal for their survival hopes this season.
"I'm happy because the team had emotional balance. What happens a lot of times, when a team starts to play with one more player they can start to lose balance and positional play, and the other team scores. Today we kept our balance," remarked Pereira.
The match’s outcome left Bournemouth reflecting on what could have been, as their defeat meant a missed opportunity to secure a spot among the league's top four teams. The implications for their aspirations in European competitions weigh heavily following this setback.
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