Wolves and Sunderland shared the spoils at Molineux Stadium in a dramatic Premier League encounter that saw the hosts reduced to ten men but still claim a point through Santiago Bueno's second-half equalizer.
Wolves dominated possession with 58% of the ball but found themselves unable to convert their territorial advantage into victory. Sunderland, sitting 12th in the table with 46 points, arrived at Molineux looking to build on recent form. The visitors faced an uphill battle against a Wolves side fighting relegation from their 20th-place position with just 17 points from 34 matches.
Nordi Mukiele gave Sunderland the perfect start in the 17th minute. The defender fired past the Wolves goalkeeper to put the visitors ahead. Wolves pressed for an immediate response but struggled to break down a compact Sunderland defense in the opening stages.
The match took a dramatic turn in the 24th minute when Wolves' D. Ballard received a red card. This left Sunderland with a numerical advantage and shifted the momentum of the contest. Despite the setback, Wolves showed resilience and determination to stay in the match.
Sunderland added to their disciplinary troubles as B. Brobbey received a yellow card in the 45th minute. The first half ended with Sunderland ahead but Wolves still very much in contention despite their disadvantage.
The second half began with Wolves searching for an equalizer. Santiago Bueno delivered exactly that in the 54th minute, finding the back of the net to level the score at 1-1. The Wolves defender's finish was clinical and sparked hope among the home supporters.
Granit Xhaka picked up a yellow card in the 56th minute as the match became increasingly heated. Both teams traded blows, with Wolves creating chances despite their numerical disadvantage. The home side's expected goals figure of 1.78 reflected their attacking intent throughout.
Sunderland's D. Cirkin received a yellow card in the 81st minute as tensions remained high. Robin Roefs made a crucial save for Sunderland, finishing with six stops to keep his side in the match. In the 90+2nd minute, R. Roefs joined the yellow card list.
Wolves managed 20 total shots with seven on target, while Sunderland had just ten shots with two finding the target. The home side's 432 passes at 86% accuracy dominated the statistical battle. Sunderland's goalkeeper made six saves to preserve their point.
Bueno's performance earned him a match rating of 9.2, the highest on the pitch. Mukiele, despite the loss of possession, registered 7.9 and showed solid defensive work with four tackles. Both teams finished with 11 fouls apiece in a competitive encounter.
The draw leaves Wolves rooted in the relegation zone with their survival hopes fading. Sunderland maintained their mid-table position and extended their unbeaten run. Both teams will reflect on what could have been in a tightly contested Premier League battle.
