Kroupi strike seals late Bournemouth win over Wolves

Eli Junior Kroupi’s thunderous first-half strike set Bournemouth on course for a 2–0 victory at Molineux Stadium as the Cherries recorded back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time since September.

Wolves, chasing a response after last weekend’s defeat at Manchester City, started brightly and thought they had taken an early lead when Matheus Mane nodded Rodrigo Gomes’ cross in off the post in the seventh minute, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.

Bournemouth opened the scoring in the 33rd minute when Kroupi rifled a looping effort past Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa from just inside the penalty area, his eighth league goal of the season. The Cherries came close to doubling their lead before half-time as Amine Adli and Alex Jimenez were denied by Sa, keeping Wolves in the contest.

The hosts continued to press in the second half. Joao Gomes struck the post from a Hugo Bueno corner, and Tolu Arokodare and Jorgen Strand Larsen each came close to scoring. But Bournemouth held firm and sealed the win in stoppage time when Alex Scott converted Rayan’s low cross from the left, giving manager Andoni Iraola a victory in his 100th Premier League game in charge.

The result lifts Bournemouth to 12th in the table, just five points off a top-four spot, while Wolves remain in the relegation zone, 17 points adrift of safety with a worrying goal difference.