Wolves 2 Bournemouth 4: Kluivert makes Premier League history with hat-trick of penalties in feisty six-goal thriller
JUSTIN KLUIVERT scored an incredible first-ever hat-trick of penalties in a Premier League game – on what was a crazy day at Molineux.
But the game turned ugly at half-time as Wolves’ Portuguese keeper Jose Sa was involved in an angry exchange with his own fans.
Sa gave away two of Bournemouth’s penalties and looked shaky throughout.
But as the first half came to an end, Sa ended up in the crowd as he confronted a supporter who had been given him stick from behind the goal.
Stewards had to step in to stop the situation from escalating – but the fan was then thrown out of the ground to cheers from Wolves supporters.
By the end, travelling Cherries fans were taunting their former manager Gary O’Neil with taunts of “Gary, Gary what’s the score” – and the remaining Wolves fans joined in!
Worryingly for O’Neil, his own supporters sang “You’re getting sacked in the morning” as Wolves slid back into the bottom three.
But the day belonged to Kluivert – on his 50th appearance for the Cherries.
He is the first player in Premier League history to score a hat-trick of penalties in a single match – with teammate Evanilson also the first to win three spot-kicks in the same game in the competition.
It is the first time it has happened in the top flight in 67 years – when Ken Barnes did it for Manchester City against Everton in 1957.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
O’Neil – who has been a vocal critic of VAR – will not have been happy with some of the decisions that went the way of his former team.
But the game was also remarkable for having four goals in the opening 18 minutes.
It took just 56 seconds for ref Peter Bankes to point to the spot when Evanilson was brought down by Toti – the decision stood after a VAR check.
Kluivert cooly slotted home the spot kick – but Wolves levelled just four minutes later when Jorgen Strand Larsen glanced in a header from Jean Bellegarde’s cross.
But Milos Kerkez’s deflected shot left Sa stranded as Bournemouth took the lead again.
That was three goals in the opening eight minutes – something that last happened four years ago when Manchester United played Tottenham.
Wolves had gone to Fulham last week with what was described as a makeshift defence – and won 4-1.
But this time, O’Neil’s men were a shambles at the back – and Wolves fans were already starting to get restless.
Bournemouth then won a farcical penalty as Sa went to clear the ball just as Evanilson stole the ball off him.
Sa was already about to kick the ball but he brought down the Brazilian forward instead.
Bankes waved play on, but VAR then stepped in to rule it was another penalty with Evanilson needing extensive treatment from his clash with Sa.
Kluivert went the other way this time and Andoni Iraola’s men were in firmly in charge.
But Wolves then had two penalty appeals of their own rejected as Matheus Cunha and Rodrigo Gomes went down in the area under challenges.
Wolves looked stronger after the break and Larsen grabbed his second of the game to put them back in it.
But then a weak back pass from sub Craig Dawson saw Sa rush out and clatter danger man Evanilson.
It gave Kluivert the chance to complete a unique day from the spot and he repeated his first penalty with a cool finish.
But Wolves were booed off at the end on a day they will want to forget.
Commentary