Noni Madueke hits hat-trick as Chelsea thrash Wolves 6-2

LONDON – Noni Madueke hit a treble as Chelsea crushed Wolverhampton Wanderers 6-2 to give Enzo Maresca his first English Premier League win as Blues manager, while Newcastle United rescued a controversial 1-1 draw at Bournemouth on Aug 25.

Maresca suffered a 2-0 loss against Manchester City a week ago in his first game since arriving from Leicester City to replace Mauricio Pochettino in the close-season.

Chelsea got off the mark under Maresca with a Europa Conference League play-off victory against Servette on Aug 22, but that low-key 2-0 success was only the prelude to their goal spree at Molineux.

Maresca’s side made the perfect start after just 98 seconds when Matheus Cunha could only flick his attempted clearance from a corner towards forward Nicolas Jackson, who was left unmarked to head in from six metres.

Jackson’s goal infuriated Wolves fans already angry with Chelsea after Madueke posted and then deleted a critical review of Wolverhampton just hours before kick-off.

The forward shared his location, which was Wolverhampton, in the post, which read “this place is s**t”. He later shared: “Damn wrong Instagram account. You lot are too fast.”

Cunha hauled the hosts level in the 27th minute as the Brazilian forward tormented the Blues again after last season’s hat-trick at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo carelessly lost possession and left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri drove forward before teeing up Cunha, whose fierce strike flashed past Robert Sanchez and sparked a samba-dancing goal celebration.

Cole Palmer restored Chelsea’s advantage in the 45th minute, the England forward taking Jackson’s flick and lobbing a sublime finish over Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa.

But Wolves hit back when Chelsea made a hash of clearing Ait-Nouri’s free-kick seconds before the half-time whistle and Toti Gomes headed it across to Jorgen Strand Larsen, who poked home from close range.

However, the roller-coaster clash switched back in Chelsea’s favour in the 49th minute as Palmer found Madueke and his shot deflected in off Ait-Nouri.

Madueke struck again nine minutes later, slotting a composed finish through Sa’s legs after Palmer’s run unhinged the creaky Wolves defence.

The 22-year-old completed his treble with a carbon copy of his two previous goals, once again finishing off another Palmer assist to silence the Wolves boo boys.

“It is unbelievable,” Madueke told Sky Sports of his blossoming relationship with Palmer.

“He is cold and I am fire, so it mixes well. He has the ability to always play a pass at the right time. I like to get the ball in space, beat people and make things happen, so luckily today it worked.”

He also took time to express his regret for his pre-match social media post about Wolves, where Madueke has now scored more Premier League goals than he has at Stamford Bridge (two in 18 games).

“I just want to apologise to anyone I might have offended. It was a human mistake, an accident. It wasn’t meant to be out on my socials,” the Englishman said.

“I’m sure Wolverhampton is a lovely town, I’m just sorry. In terms of the boos, I expected it. But you have to learn under that type of pressure.”

Joao Felix came off the bench to cap the rout in the 80th minute as the Portugal forward marked his second debut for Chelsea following his permanent move from Atletico Madrid.

Felix, who spent the second half of the 2022-23 season on loan at Chelsea, blasted into the top corner after former Wolves forward Pedro Neto picked him out.

At the Vitality Stadium, Newcastle trailed when Joelinton carelessly lost possession and Antoine Semenyo’s low cross was touched in by Marcus Tavernier in the 37th minute. Eddie Howe’s team equalised in the 76th minute as Harvey Barnes floated in a cross that Anthony Gordon slotted home from close range.

Bournemouth were furious to be denied a stoppage-time winner when the video assistant referee ruled Dango Ouattara had handled before heading in. AFP