NONI Madueke, the Englishman with Nigerian roots, scored a hat-trick today to steer Chelsea to a 6-2 English Premier League victory at Wolves.
Incidentally, Madueke had annoyed Wolves fans with a social media post in which he criticised the city of Wolverhampton on the eve of the encounter.
He quickly deleted the post but the people of Wolverhampton did not forgive him as his every touch was met with boos.
But the England youth international was unfazed and he replied with a second-half hat-trick, his first in the Premier League.
Chelsea took the lead after 98 seconds of the chaotic game when Cole Palmer’s corner was inadvertently flicked on by Matheus Cunha and an unmarked Nicolas Jackson nodded in at the back post.
Algeria left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri’s dazzling run set up Cunha and the Brazilian equalised in the 27th minute with a low finish from inside the box.
Palmer then restored Chelsea’s lead with a cushioned lob from 30 yards when he spotted Jose Sa off his line on the breakaway.
Wolves were back level for a second time just before the break when Jorgen Strand Larsen poked home from the edge of the six-yard box after a free-kick.
However, Madueke’s three goals in 14 second-half minutes settled the game as Wolves wilted.
The three goals were nearly identical as Madueke scored with low angled shots from inside the area, assisted by Palmer on each occasion.
Joao Felix put the icing on the Chelsea cake late on when he side-footed the ball high into the net from near the penalty spot after being picked out by fellow substitute — and former Wolves winger — Pedro Neto.
In the other English Premier League clash that kicked off at the same time, Newcastle equalised late to earn a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth.
