Brighton’s victory over Wolves on Saturday saw Danny Welbeck reach a career milestone, scoring his 10th goal of the season for the first time in his 17-year career. The 34-year-old striker, who has found his best form late in his career, was clinical in converting a penalty after Matheus Cunha fouled Brighton’s Mats Wieffer inside the box. It was a moment of celebration for Welbeck, and a goal that contributed to Brighton’s growing hopes of securing a European spot for next season.
Brighton’s win came after a dominant display, despite Wolves making the better start. The hosts lacked a reliable striker, with Jørgen Strand Larsen on the bench due to fitness issues. Vítor Pereira opted for Gonçalo Guedes to lead the attack, but the Portuguese winger failed to make an impact, missing two early chances. Guedes’ struggles epitomized Wolves’ overall attacking problems, as they couldn’t capitalize on their early pressure.
Meanwhile, Brighton’s defensive setup neutralized Wolves’ most dangerous player, Cunha. Mats Wieffer was tasked with shadowing the Brazilian, and he executed the job perfectly, ensuring Cunha had little influence on the game. Brighton’s tactical discipline showed, as they kept Wolves at bay, forcing them into errors, including a near-comical moment when José Sá’s clearance was intercepted by Matt O’Riley. However, O’Riley failed to capitalize on the chance, passing to Yankuba Minteh, who couldn’t finish.
The game had its moments of excitement, but VAR stole the spotlight in the first half. Welbeck thought he had scored his 10th goal of the season after turning in a Tariq Lamptey cross. However, the assistant referee’s belated flag and a lengthy VAR check ruled out the goal, with Minteh deemed offside and interfering with the goalkeeper’s line of sight. The decision was a frustrating interruption for Welbeck, who had every reason to believe his strike was legitimate.
Brighton’s persistence finally paid off after the disallowed goal. In the second half, Cunha mishandled a pass while under pressure from Wieffer, who nipped in to steal possession. Cunha then brought Wieffer down in the box, resulting in a penalty. Welbeck kept his cool, converting the spot-kick to give Brighton the lead and secure his 10th goal of the season.
With Brighton leading, Wolves attempted to respond, making a quadruple substitution around the hour mark. Strand Larsen replaced Cunha, and the change seemed to inject new energy into the team. Wolves looked livelier, and Strand Larsen almost tapped in a cross from Rayan Aït-Nouri, but Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen was alert enough to deny him. It was a brief moment of hope for the home side, but their attacking inefficiency continued to haunt them.
Brighton sealed the win late in the game when Simon Adingra played in Brajan Gruda, who calmly dinked the ball over Sá to make it 2-0. The goal put the game beyond Wolves’ reach and ensured Brighton’s victory.
The result keeps Brighton’s slim hopes of European qualification alive. They remain reliant on finishing eighth, with Newcastle and Manchester City securing European football through the league, and the latter also winning the FA Cup. Though the odds are stacked against them, Brighton’s ability to thrive in statistical anomalies, along with Welbeck’s remarkable form, gives them a glimmer of hope as the season reaches its conclusion.
