Kick-Off: 20:30 BST
Venue: Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth
Attendance: 11,206
Referee: Michael Salisbury
AFC Bournemouth vs Wolverhampton Wanderers FC Match Report
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC secured a crucial 1-0 victory against AFC Bournemouth on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at the Vitality Stadium. The win moved Wolves five points clear of the relegation zone, while Bournemouth, despite the defeat, remained in contention for a top-five finish. A first-half strike from Matheus Cunha proved to be the difference in a tense encounter that also saw Bournemouth reduced to 10 men following Illia Zabarnyi’s red card.
AFC Bournemouth vs Wolverhampton Wanderers FC Head-to-Head
Recent Meetings
| Date | Fixture | Result |
| 30 Sept 2024 | Wolves vs Bournemouth | 2-4 |
| 17 March 2024 | Bournemouth vs Wolves | 1-1 |
| 29 Oct 2023 | Wolves vs Bournemouth | 2-1 |
| 21 Feb 2023 | Bournemouth vs Wolves | 0-1 |
Wolves have now extended their unbeaten away record against Bournemouth in the Premier League to five matches.
AFC Bournemouth vs Wolverhampton Wanderers FC Lineups
AFC Bournemouth (4-2-3-1)
Starting XI:
- GK: Kepa Arrizabalaga
- DF: James Hill, Illia Zabarnyi, Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez
- MF: Ryan Christie, Lewis Cook
- AMF: Marcus Tavernier, Justin Kluivert, Dango Ouattara
- FW: Antoine Semenyo
Substitutes:
- Neto (GK)
- Tyler Adams
- Alex Scott
- David Brooks
- Nasser Djiga
- Daniel Jebbison
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC (4-3-3)
Starting XI:
- GK: José Sá
- DF: Nélson Semedo, Santiago Bueno, Max Kilman, Rayan Aït-Nouri
- MF: João Gomes, Marshall Munetsi, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde
- FW: Matheus Cunha, Jørgen Strand Larsen, Pablo Sarabia
Substitutes:
- Tom King (GK)
- Matt Doherty
- Pedro Lima
- Tommy Doyle
- Daniel Bentley
- Hwang Hee-chan
AFC Bournemouth vs Wolverhampton Wanderers FC Match Summary
AFC Bournemouth vs Wolverhampton Wanderers FC First Half
The match started with both sides creating early chances, with Nelson Semedo hitting the post for Wolves in the ninth minute. Bournemouth responded with a Justin Kluivert attempt, but José Sá made a crucial save.
The game turned on its head in the 31st minute when Illia Zabarnyi was initially shown a yellow card for a reckless tackle on Rayan Aït-Nouri. However, after a VAR review, the card was upgraded to a red, leaving Bournemouth with 10 men.
Five minutes later, Wolves capitalized on their numerical advantage. Matheus Cunha found space inside the box and slotted home a well-timed pass from Marshall Munetsi to give Wolves a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute.
AFC Bournemouth vs Wolverhampton Wanderers FC Halftime Score: AFC Bournemouth 0-1 Wolves
AFC Bournemouth vs Wolverhampton Wanderers FC Second Half
Wolves dominated possession after the restart, keeping Bournemouth pinned in their half. In the 62nd minute, Marshall Munetsi had a golden chance to double Wolves’ lead but dragged his shot wide.
Bournemouth fought hard despite being a man down, with Marcus Tavernier testing José Sá from range in the 76th minute. However, Wolves’ defense held firm, and they saw out a crucial 1-0 victory.
AFC Bournemouth vs Wolverhampton Wanderers FC Full-time: AFC Bournemouth 0-1 Wolves
AFC Bournemouth vs Wolverhampton Wanderers FC Stats
| AFC Bournemouth vs Wolverhampton Wanderers FC Stats | Bournemouth | Wolves |
| Possession | 45% | 55% |
| Shots (on target) | 10 (3) | 15 (5) |
| Corners | 4 | 6 |
| Fouls | 12 | 9 |
| Yellow Cards | 3 | 2 |
| Red Cards | 1 | 0 |
| Pass Accuracy | 82% | 85% |
AFC Bournemouth vs Wolverhampton Wanderers FC Timeline
- 31’ – Illia Zabarnyi (Bournemouth) is sent off after a VAR review.
- 36’ – GOAL! Matheus Cunha (Wolves) scores from a Munetsi assist.
- 62’ – Munetsi misses a clear chance to make it 2-0.
- 90+7’ – Full-time whistle blows; Wolves secure a crucial win.
AFC Bournemouth vs Wolverhampton Wanderers FC Man of the Match
Matheus Cunha – The Brazilian forward’s decisive goal and relentless pressing made him the standout performer of the match.
Impact on the League Table
- Wolves move up to 15th place, five points clear of the relegation zone.
- Bournemouth stay in 5th place but miss an opportunity to close the gap on 4th.
FAQs
Who scored in the AFC Bournemouth vs Wolverhampton Wanderers FC match?
Matheus Cunha scored the only goal of the match in the 36th minute.
Why was Illia Zabarnyi sent off in the AFC Bournemouth vs Wolverhampton Wanderers FC match?
He received a straight red card following a VAR review for a dangerous tackle on Rayan Aït-Nouri.
How did this AFC Bournemouth vs Wolverhampton Wanderers FC match affect Wolves’ chances of survival?
With this win, Wolves moved five points clear of the relegation zone, significantly boosting their survival hopes.
Who was the best player in the AFC Bournemouth vs Wolverhampton Wanderers FC match?
Matheus Cunha was awarded Man of the Match for his decisive goal and overall performance.
This match was a crucial win for Wolves as they fight for Premier League survival, while Bournemouth will need to bounce back in their next fixture to keep their European qualification hopes alive.
