Wolves delivered a vital blow to Aston Villa's Champions League ambitions, securing a hard-fought 2-0 victory at Molineux with a clinical second-half performance that thrilled the home crowd.
In a thrilling West Midlands derby, Wolves pulled off a significant upset against local rivals Aston Villa. Goals from Joao Gomes and a late strike by substitute Rodrigo Gomes sealed a memorable win for the home side on a dramatic Friday night.
Wolves entered the contest on February 27, 2026, languishing at the very foot of the Premier League table, desperate for points to ignite their survival bid. Aston Villa, conversely, arrived in strong form, sitting comfortably in third place and aiming to solidify their spot among Europe's elite teams.
The first half was a tense affair, characterized by robust challenges and cautious tactical approaches from both teams. Clear-cut chances remained at a premium, as neither side managed to carve out a definitive opening in the final third.
The intensity of the derby led to the game's first booking just before the interval. Wolves defender Yerson Mosquera received a yellow card in the 45th minute for unsportsmanlike conduct, signaling a fiery second half to come.
As the teams headed into halftime, the score remained deadlocked at 0-0. Wolves needed to find a way to break Villa's organized defense, while the visitors had to convert their superior possession into more dangerous goal-scoring opportunities.
The second half began with a flurry of yellow cards, reflecting the escalating friction on the pitch. Adam Armstrong of Wolves was cautioned in the 52nd minute for tripping, followed swiftly by Emiliano Buendia for Villa in the 54th for rough play. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde also saw yellow for Wolves in the 59th minute for holding.
Aston Villa made a double substitution in the 60th minute, introducing Jadon Sancho and Douglas Luiz to inject fresh attacking impetus. However, it was Wolves who capitalized on this tactical shift, striking immediately after these changes.
Just one minute later, in the 61st minute, Joao Gomes broke the deadlock for Wolves. Adam Armstrong provided a perfectly weighted pass, setting up Gomes to fire home from inside the box and send Molineux into a frenzy. The goal gave Wolves a crucial, albeit narrow, lead.
Villa pushed intensely for an equalizer, making further substitutions to bolster their attack. However, the Wolves defense stood firm, defending their lead resiliently against a wave of increasing pressure. Leon Bailey and Matty Cash also received yellow cards for the visitors in separate incidents.
In a dramatic finish deep into stoppage time, Wolves sealed their victory against their local rivals. Substitute Rodrigo Gomes, who had only been on the pitch for a few minutes after replacing Adam Armstrong, slotted home in the 90+8 minute, securing all three vital points.
Statistically, Aston Villa dominated possession with 61% and registered 14 shots, five of which were on target, culminating in an expected goals (xG) tally of 1.06. However, Wolves were far more clinical, scoring twice from just two shots on target, despite a lower xG of 0.98. Wolves goalkeeper José Sá was instrumental, making four crucial saves to keep a clean sheet.
This monumental 2-0 victory provides a much-needed morale boost and critical points for Wolves in their ongoing battle against relegation. For Aston Villa, it is a frustrating setback, losing valuable ground in the fiercely contested race for Champions League qualification spots.
