Madueke scores a hat-trick in Chelsea’s eight-goal thriller

Noni Madueke scored a hat trick in the second half to help Chelsea crush Wolves in a thrilling Premier League match at Molineux. This was Chelsea’s first Premier League point of the season. It is the first under new manager Enzo Maresca, as the visitors ripped apart Wolves after an absorbing first half.

Maresca’s side scored two goals in the first half thanks to an early strike from Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer’s 45th minute. But Wolves deservedly responded with goals from Matheus Cunha and Jorgen Strand Larsen. After the break, Madueke put the game beyond the Wolves, winning three goals in 15 minutes, all with help from the outstanding Palmer.

João Félix came off the bench to mark his return to the club with his side’s sixth goal. Much has been made of Chelsea’s huge squad and the puzzle Italian Maresca has been hired to solve, but the youthful side he selected on Sunday gelled impressively.

Madueke was the villain for the home fans in more ways than one. The English forward was booed from the start after a deleted social media post in which he insulted Wolverhampton. He emphatically silenced the hecklers.

With a strike that ricocheted off Rayan Aït-Nouri in the 49th minute, the 22-year-old gave Chelsea the lead again. Wolves, who had perhaps been the better team in the first half, were outmatched after that goal, as Palmer once more set Madueke up to smash a shot between Wolves goalkeeper José Sá’s legs.

After Wolves gave up the ball, Madueke scored another nearly identical goal to make it 5-2. Cole then put him clear to complete his hat trick. With Wolves in disarray, Pedro Neto, who left them for Chelsea in the summer, teed up Felix for a cool finish.