Waldstadion Saturday, July 15th, 2017 k/o 17:00   1st Team Friendly Attendance: 1,000 (estimated)         Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 Viktoria Plzen
2017 /18

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Nuno Espirito Santo’s men made it two wins from two friendly games in the stunning setting of Westendorf’s Waldstadion on Saturday afternoon, in a match that was changed at very short notice, not that anybody cares! Dicko caused the Czech side problems from the start and it was he who put Wolves in front slotting home at the far post. Willy Boly went close, causing Wolves fans to enjoy a number of songs about Big Willies The lead was deservedly doubled on the half-hour mark when Cavaleiro received the ball in the opposition half and worked into the middle of the pitch before picking out the run of Doherty who finished smartly across goal first time. Cavaleiro looked to be the provider again as he picked out the darting run of Dicko, the striker broke forward and shaped onto his left foot to shoot but was dispossessed moments before he could pull the trigger. As with the game in Zell, Wolves’ Head Coach made a number of changes to his side to begin the second half. Douglas, who provided the ball for Wolves’ opening goal, looked to do the same with another low cut-back intended for Bright Enobakhare, but the pass was intercepted just ahead of the forward who was ready to pounce in a good position. Michal Zyro was then picked out inside Viktoria Plzen’s box, he struck low towards the target but the opposition goalkeeper was equal to his effort and smothered the ball at his feet. Plzen pulled a goal back in the 64th minute as Marek Bakos was picked out at the back post from a deep free-kick, he waited for the cross to drop before striking it first time across goal and finding the back of the net. Zyro had the ball in the back of the net with a tidy one-on-one finish over the goalkeeper but he had be flagged offside and his effort would not stand. The last ten minutes of the match were played out with neither side creating a meaningful effort on goal and Wolves would go on to record their second win in four days. Wolves: Ruddy (Norris 45’), Doherty (Batth 45’), Bennett (Simpson 61’), Miranda, Boly (Coady 61’), Douglas (Deslandes 61’): Edwards (Saiss 45’), Price (Neves 45’): Cavaleiro (Ronan 61’), Dicko (Enobakhare 45’), Mason (Zyro 45’). My eternal thanks to Mark, who first informed me of the fixture change, Andy for sorting the details, the two Austrian ladies who gave me a lift to the stadium and the two Wolves fans who gave me a lift back!