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Hull City 2-2 Wolves: Wolves Snatch Point
Relegation six-pointer finishes all square.
Jan 30, 2010 11:52:00 AM
By Michael Landon
Hull v Wolverhampton: Line-up & stats
Premier League results/standings
The relegation six-pointer between strugglers Hull and Wolverhampton finished 2-2 at the KC Stadium after an exciting second half witnessed the away side twice pulling level.
Jan Vennegoor opened the scoring in the first half only for an own goal by Anthony Gardner to draw Wolves level in the second. Hull went back into the lead minutes minutes later when Hunt converted a penalty kick before Matthew Jarvis struck to draw the scores level at two goals-apiece.
Hull opted for a starting line-up featuring the duel threat of Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Jozy Altidore up-front together, with manager Phil Brown also deciding to start talented youngster Tom Cairney.
Wolves started in a more defensive 4-5-1 formation, with Kevin Doyle the lone targetman.
Hull started the more positive of the two sides and within the first five minutes of the match Altidore sent a warning to the visitors with the first shot on target of the game.
The American, finding space to the left of goal, tried his luck with a long-range drive but Wolves keeper Marcus Hahnemann moved well to gather the ball at his near post.
It was a rudimentary save but Altidore looked in the mood.
A few minutes later and the striker was involved in the opening goal of the game.
A simple lobbed pass from Cairney was collected by Altidore. The USA International held off the attentions of Christophe Berrer and laid the ball square to Jan Vennegoor who finished with aplomb with a low drive into the right corner of goal.
There was little Hahnemann could do to stop that shot rippling his net and things then looked like an up-hill struggle for Wolves, who have found goals hard to come by this season.
It almost got worse for the visitors not five minutes later when Altidore bought his side a corner. Stephen Hunt swung in from the left and Jan Vennegoor looked odds-on to secure an early brace when he met the ball with his head ten yards from goal, but somehow his effort veered off-target.
Wolves managed to temper the storm somewhat as they began to settle into the game, but settling into the game is one thing and offering a goal threat is another and the visitors struggled to look dangerous in the first half.
A punted free-kick from Hahnemann into the box which Michael Mancienne failed to connect with at the far-post perhaps summed up their opening half.
Not long after the re-start and the game exploded into life when two goals were scored within three minutes of each other.
Ronald Zubar delivered a corner kick from which Hull defender Anthony Gardner somehow managed to lob his own keeper for an embarrassing howler of an own-goal.
It was all square but it didn't stay like that for very long. Less than two minutes later, the Tigers had the chance to go back in to the lead when Zubar, whose cross lead to the own-goal, was again involved as he brought down Altidore in the box after a Bernard Mendy cross.
The referee pointed to the spot and Hunt sent the penalty kick emphatically into the top-right of goal to put the Tigers on top again and make the score 2-1.
After the goal Wolves didn't let their heads drop. In stark contrast to the first half, they pushed forward in numbers and they were rewarded on the 67th minute when they came back to draw level again.
Kevin Foley assisted with a cross from the right which found its way to Matthew Jarvis in the box. From 15 yards out the midfielder slotted home neatly to make the score 2-2.
A barnstorming second half seemed to reach some form of normality as the game wound to a close. The impressive Altidore was brought off for Amir Zaki by Hull and the home side pressed in the final ten minutes of the game. It became apparent at this point that Wolves would settle for things as they were.
However, a late blast from Zubar almost stole Wolves the victory but a draw was probably the fairest result in the end.
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Premier League results/standings
The relegation six-pointer between strugglers Hull and Wolverhampton finished 2-2 at the KC Stadium after an exciting second half witnessed the away side twice pulling level.
Jan Vennegoor opened the scoring in the first half only for an own goal by Anthony Gardner to draw Wolves level in the second. Hull went back into the lead minutes minutes later when Hunt converted a penalty kick before Matthew Jarvis struck to draw the scores level at two goals-apiece.
Hull opted for a starting line-up featuring the duel threat of Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Jozy Altidore up-front together, with manager Phil Brown also deciding to start talented youngster Tom Cairney.
Wolves started in a more defensive 4-5-1 formation, with Kevin Doyle the lone targetman.
Hull started the more positive of the two sides and within the first five minutes of the match Altidore sent a warning to the visitors with the first shot on target of the game.
The American, finding space to the left of goal, tried his luck with a long-range drive but Wolves keeper Marcus Hahnemann moved well to gather the ball at his near post.
It was a rudimentary save but Altidore looked in the mood.
A few minutes later and the striker was involved in the opening goal of the game.
A simple lobbed pass from Cairney was collected by Altidore. The USA International held off the attentions of Christophe Berrer and laid the ball square to Jan Vennegoor who finished with aplomb with a low drive into the right corner of goal.
There was little Hahnemann could do to stop that shot rippling his net and things then looked like an up-hill struggle for Wolves, who have found goals hard to come by this season.
It almost got worse for the visitors not five minutes later when Altidore bought his side a corner. Stephen Hunt swung in from the left and Jan Vennegoor looked odds-on to secure an early brace when he met the ball with his head ten yards from goal, but somehow his effort veered off-target.
Wolves managed to temper the storm somewhat as they began to settle into the game, but settling into the game is one thing and offering a goal threat is another and the visitors struggled to look dangerous in the first half.
A punted free-kick from Hahnemann into the box which Michael Mancienne failed to connect with at the far-post perhaps summed up their opening half.
Not long after the re-start and the game exploded into life when two goals were scored within three minutes of each other.
Ronald Zubar delivered a corner kick from which Hull defender Anthony Gardner somehow managed to lob his own keeper for an embarrassing howler of an own-goal.
It was all square but it didn't stay like that for very long. Less than two minutes later, the Tigers had the chance to go back in to the lead when Zubar, whose cross lead to the own-goal, was again involved as he brought down Altidore in the box after a Bernard Mendy cross.
The referee pointed to the spot and Hunt sent the penalty kick emphatically into the top-right of goal to put the Tigers on top again and make the score 2-1.
After the goal Wolves didn't let their heads drop. In stark contrast to the first half, they pushed forward in numbers and they were rewarded on the 67th minute when they came back to draw level again.
Kevin Foley assisted with a cross from the right which found its way to Matthew Jarvis in the box. From 15 yards out the midfielder slotted home neatly to make the score 2-2.
A barnstorming second half seemed to reach some form of normality as the game wound to a close. The impressive Altidore was brought off for Amir Zaki by Hull and the home side pressed in the final ten minutes of the game. It became apparent at this point that Wolves would settle for things as they were.
However, a late blast from Zubar almost stole Wolves the victory but a draw was probably the fairest result in the end.
For the latest news and updates from Goal.com, follow our Twitter account!
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