Palace Cruise Past Wolves with Second-Half Double at Molineux
Wolverhampton, England — Crystal Palace delivered a clinical second-half performance to secure a 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux Stadium on Saturday. The Eagles broke the deadlock through Daniel Muñoz before Yéremy Pino sealed the points with a spectacular long-range effort, rewarding the traveling supporters with a commanding away display.
The first half was a tightly contested affair with few clear-cut chances for either side. Wolves enjoyed more territorial advantage but struggled to convert possession into meaningful opportunities. The match's competitive nature was evident early when Crystal Palace captain Marc Guéhi entered the referee's book just four minutes into the contest, setting the tone for a physical encounter.
The breakthrough came in the 63rd minute when Daniel Muñoz capitalized on a corner situation. The Colombian right-back connected with Maxence Lacroix's delivery and fired a right-footed shot from the center of the box into the high center of the goal, giving Palace the advantage their growing second-half momentum deserved. Muñoz's celebration was short-lived, however, as he received a yellow card just three minutes after scoring.
Palace doubled their lead in spectacular fashion in the 69th minute. Yéremy Pino, who had been cautioned himself ten minutes earlier, produced a moment of magic with a right-footed strike from outside the box that flew into the top right corner. Adam Wharton provided the assist for what proved to be the goal that effectively ended Wolves' resistance and secured all three points for the visitors.
The home side attempted to find a way back into the match, introducing Hwang Hee-Chan for Tolu Arokodare in the 66th minute to inject fresh energy into their attack. Wolves midfielder João Gomes showed his frustration with a rash challenge that earned him a yellow card in the 77th minute as the hosts' hopes of a comeback faded.
Palace managed the closing stages professionally, making tactical substitutions to preserve their lead. Justin Devenny replaced goalscorer Yéremy Pino in the 81st minute, while Will Hughes came on for Adam Wharton deep into stoppage time. The Eagles' defensive organization remained resolute throughout, securing a clean sheet and three valuable away points that will delight their traveling supporters who made the journey to the West Midlands.