Match overview: Wolves clinch a 2-0 win
Everton’s hopes of a Carabao Cup run were crushed at Molineux Stadium when Wolverhampton Wanderers slipped past the Toffees with a 2-0 victory. The home side took the lead early through Marshall Munetsi, who volleyed home a first‑half strike that came against the flow of play. Everton had spent large parts of the first half holding the ball, but they failed to translate that dominance into clear opportunities.
The second goal arrived in the dying minutes. Substitute Tolu Arokodare stole the ball on the counter‑attack, rounded a defender and finished calmly. The strike sealed the match and left Everton chasing a miracle that never materialised.
Why the loss mattered for Everton and Moyes
David Moyes chose to rest a number of first‑team regulars, fielding a heavily rotated eleven. While the squad looked comfortable on the ball, the lack of experience in the final third was evident. Fans and pundits alike questioned the decision, especially because Everton’s next league game was not until Monday night – leaving plenty of time to field a stronger side in a winnable cup tie.
Everton’s inability to create genuine chances highlighted the risk of over‑rotation. The team dominated possession, but their final‑third production was weak, and they never seemed to threaten the Wolves’ defence in a convincing way. The failure to break down a disciplined Vitor Pereira side amplified the criticism aimed at Moyes.
For Wolves, the win marked only their second triumph of the campaign after a 3-2 extra‑time success over West Ham United in the previous round. The victory not only secured a place in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup but also gave a morale lift to a side that has struggled for points in the Premier League.
Everton supporters left the stadium frustrated, with many taking to social media to demand a rethink of squad rotation policies. The loss could prove costly in the broader context of a season where cup runs are often the only realistic avenue for silverware.
Wolves, on the other hand, will head into the next round with renewed confidence, hoping to build on this rare cup success and perhaps turn the tide in their league battle as well.
