WOLVES TAKE A BITE OUT OF SEAGULLS
MARIO LEMINA needed just 80 seconds to score the goal that allows Wolves to dream of unlikely Cup glory.
Not since 1960 have the four-time winners lifted the FA Cup.
But suddenly the prospect of adding to their honours has become a tad more realistic thanks to Lemina’s early effort (above) and a gritty display.
Wolves now host Championship opposition in Coventry after the kindest of draws made prior to last night’s clash.
Wanderers were straight out of the traps as Jean-ricner Bellegarde’s cross was fumbled by Jason Steele and Pervis Estupinan was beaten easily by Lemina on the floor and he bundled home (celebrating, below).
Brighton, famously 1983 finalists, took a while to respond but went close as Simon Adingra sliced over. Then Jakub Moder should have equalised as he fired wide left-footed from Estupinan’s pass.
The Seagulls, though, were defending poorly and Bellegarde seized on a desperate back pass from Igor Julio but Steele came to his defender’s rescue.
Estupinan saw one shot deflected wide for Brighton before crossing for Facundo Buonaotte, who nodded a free header wide.
It was Wolves who went close to a second on the stroke of half-time as Lemina volleyed wide after another good cross from Bellegarde.
Brighton, who were missing eight players including Kaoru Mitoma, searched for a way back early in the second half with Lewis Dunk heading wide from Moder’s corner.
Wanderers suffered a blow when key-man Hee-chan Hwang was forced off with an apparent left-leg injury.
Replacement Pedro Neto went very close after a superb run while Rayan Ait-nourri also created an opening.
The Seagulls, who sent on Danny Welbeck at the break, just did not look like breaking the hosts down despite having plenty of the play.
Fellow sub Julio Enciso shot wide from outside the area, but you sense Roberto De Zerbi may have other priorities with next week’s round of 16 Europa League first leg clash in Roma to come.
Steele went up for a 96th-minute corner and missed a golden chance as the ball fell to him, as Wolves held on to the delight of their noisy fans.