Divine Mukasa proved decisive, netting a brace as West Ham triumphed 4-2 against Wolves, earning their inaugural three points since the club’s demotion to the Championship last season. The match also marked a rare defeat for Wolves, who, like West Ham, had been relegated from the Premier League the previous term, and it was the first loss for their new boss, Cesar Peixoto. The hosts benefited from contributions by Jarrod Bowen and Konstantinos Mavropanos, while Wolves’ reply came in the form of a goal by Marshall Munetsi and an own‑goal from Mavropanos.
The victory eased the pressure on West Ham’s manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, especially on a night when Amanda Staveley – leading a consortium interested in acquiring a substantial share of the club – was present at the London Stadium. Early on, West Ham struggled to find rhythm. Their first real chance fell to Raul Jimenez, who was found in space inside the box by Jackson Tchatchoua but blasted the effort wide of the post.
Jimenez’s second attempt, taken from a corner that drifted to the edge of the area, was more precise; his shot struck the turf, rose over goalkeeper Mads Hermansen and clanged against the crossbar. Not long after, Mateus Mane also saw his effort hit the bar after a cross from Kyle Walker‑Peters was only partially cleared, the full‑back managing just enough of a deflection to keep the ball in play. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 33rd minute, contrary to the flow of the game.
Mukasa, the on‑loan midfielder from Manchester City, unleashed a powerful drive from beyond the 20‑yard line. The ball struck the underside of the crossbar before ricocheting into the net, giving West Ham the lead.
The hosts looked revitalised, with Munetsi forced to block a dangerous run from Wolves’ defender Max Kilman at the goal line. Ten minutes later, a penalty was awarded after Andre’s challenge on Wolves’ forward Joel Piroe inside the box. Bowen stepped up, sending goalkeeper Jose Sa the wrong way and calmly slotting the spot‑kick home to double West Ham’s advantage.
Wolves responded quickly; in the 43rd minute Munetsi chased down a loose ball, out‑muscling Mavropanos and firing a low drive past Hermansen’s outstretched dive, narrowing the deficit to 2‑1. The second half opened with Mukasa extending his tally in the 53rd minute. After receiving a pass from Bowen on the right flank, he struck the ball, which took a deflection off Nasser Djiga’s boot before looping over Sa, who could only watch as the ball crossed the line. Sa managed to parry a subsequent Bowen attempt from a sharp angle, but West Ham kept the pressure on.
In the 64th minute, a corner awarded to West Ham produced the fourth goal. Mavropanos rose to meet the delivery; his header struck the crossbar and rebounded directly into the net, cementing the 4‑1 lead. Wolves managed to pull one back in the 69th minute when Mavropanos, attempting to intercept a cross from Tchatchoua aimed at substitute Jordan James, inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, reducing the margin to 4‑2.
After the final whistle, Nuno Espirito Santo praised his side’s performance, acknowledging the importance of the win while admitting there were still mistakes to correct. “We all know it was much‑needed, this win.
The way we are trying to grow and to improve, there were mistakes again today that we need to correct but we were able to be dominant,” he said. He highlighted the improved attacking efficiency and stressed the need for greater focus and concentration when defending, noting that “the goals we conceded requires more than anything focus, concentration and determination.” Regarding Mukasa’s impact, Santo was effusive: “I’m delighted, not only for the goals but the way he played, the positions he took in the middle of the park.
He is a young player with a lot of things to improve but I’m delighted to have him. I value a lot the goal as you can imagine but more than anything was his position, the way he distributed the ball, the way he supported and defended. And if he can score then fantastic.” Wolves’ manager Cesar Peixoto, on the other hand, expressed disappointment but also respect for the opposition.
“It was not the result we wanted, we created a lot of chances to score. But congratulations to West Ham, they scored more goals,” he admitted. He described the first West Ham goal as “impossible to defend” and admitted a period of disorganisation after that, which led to the penalty.
Peixoto also felt the third goal was partially lucky and lamented that “the fourth goal they score. It is an unfair result. Two goals difference is unfair.” Nevertheless, he praised his squad’s resilience, noting that “the team stayed organised and as a team to the end.
It was an amazing effort from the players but we have to improve some things.” The match, broadcast on various platforms, also featured promotional messages encouraging viewers to watch Championship highlights, use Chrome for a better video experience, and participate in contests such as the Super 6 for a chance to win £250,000. Overall, the game provided a thrilling spectacle for fans and marked a significant step forward for West Ham as they seek to re‑establish themselves after relegation, while Wolves will look to regroup under Peixoto’s guidance as they aim to bounce back from this setback.