Wolves were controversially denied a late equaliser in a 2-1 defeat to West Ham, who secured the win thanks to an incredible James Ward-Prowse goal direct from a corner.
Max Kilman nodded home Wolves’ leveller in the 99th minute, only for VAR to rule out the goal. Tawanda Chirewa was deemed to be in an offside position and blocking Lukasz Fabianski from making the save, therefore interfering with play.
“It’s a bitter pill to swallow,” Wolves captain Kilman told Sky Sports after the game. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
The match epitomized the phrase ‘a game of two halves’, with Wolves dominating the first period. They deservedly went ahead as Pablo Sarabia scored (33) from the spot after Emerson’s foul on Rayan Ait Nouri.
However, the Hammers – who made two half-time substitutes – were much improved after the break. They too equalised with a penalty, Lucas Paqueta (72) scoring it after Kilman’s handball.
Then came a moment of magic – and arguably the help of some wind – that saw Ward-Prowse’s corner (84) swirl into the top corner to ultimately secure the Hammers’ first Premier League win since March 2.
The victory will be a huge boost for West Ham ahead of their Europa League quarter-final first leg against Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday.
With this win, they are now level on points with Manchester United in fifth, although they have played two more games. Meanwhile, Wolves remain in 11th place.
The late drama and controversial decisions left both sets of players and fans with plenty to discuss after the final whistle. VAR once again found itself at the center of attention, with the decision to disallow Kilman’s goal sparking debates about its implementation and consistency.
Regardless of the contentious VAR call, West Ham will be pleased to have secured a vital three points as they continue their push for European qualification. On the other hand, Wolves will feel aggrieved by the outcome but will look to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures.