Wolves’ Premier League match against West Ham United at Molineux ended in a draw after a late VAR drama. Maximilian Kilman’s injury-time header was ruled to be invalid.

Gary O’Neil’s Old Gold team had dominated in the first half, and Pablo Sarabia’s penalty was a deserved winner. West Ham was a different team after the break. Lucas Paqueta converted another penalty, and James Ward-Prowse added a direct corner goal.

Eight minutes of extra time brought drama. Kilman’s goal in the eighth minute of added time was disallowed by VAR after the referee determined that the West Ham goalkeeper had his view obstructed.

O’Neil’s decision to change the front three, with Rayan Ait Nouri moving to the right and Tommy Doyle to the left, and Sarabia in the middle, appeared to be a brilliant one as his team dominated the first half of the match at Molineux.

Ait-Nouri was able to use his pace and cut inside to have shots on the left side of his body. This is where the first opportunity of the match fell, with the Algerian barely able to keep a powerful shot from going over Lucasz Fabianski’s crossedbar.

Tomas Soucek had the only chance for West Ham in the first-half after Wolves’ Nelson Semedo slipped up at the back. Jarrod bowen gave the ball to his teammate after the defender tried to dribble to escape the trouble. However, six yards away and with the goal right in front of him, Soucek failed to control the football, allowing Joao to Gomes to clear it.

After that chance, Wolves began to regain their composure. Sarabia saved Fabianski after Semedo had been found inside the box. Doyle then tested the gloves of the keeper with a clever stop to his right.

Wolves finally scored after half an hour. Doyle and Lemina had stung his gloves as they tried to beat Fabianski at long range. The front three worked together to send Ait-Nouri into the box. After he had dragged the football back, Emerson dived and took the wingers’ legs out to concede a foul.

Sarabia took the spotkick from 12 yards away. Fabianski dived in the right direction, but he was unable get a hold of the ball. The Spaniard placed it out of reach and into his net off the right side post.

West Ham goalkeeper Fabianski continued to be busier than the other two goalies. He stopped Gomes’ long-range shot before making a good save on Sarabia’s second of afternoon. The forward curled his free-kick above the wall, towards the top corner but Fabianski caught the ball in both hands.

Half-time | Wolves 1-0 West Ham

After the break, West Ham won the game despite Wolves’ good performance in the first half.

Michail Anthony’s introduction during the second half provided the Hammers with a focal point that they had been missing in the first 45. The Jamaican international pressed the Wolves’ defence, allowing the Hammers to take advantage.

Mohammed Kudus first found space outside the box but after turning Sarabia he was only able to fire high into the North Bank. Matt Doherty then had to head away danger twice to deny Ward Prowse, first from a corner and then a free kick.

West Ham scored just after the hour-mark after Emerson headed the ball into the Wolves goal at the far post. But the goal was ruled by the official due to a Semedo foul in the buildup. West Ham equalized just moments after.

Wolves were on their knees and knuckles in defence when they gave possession back to the visitors. They were made to suffer when a cross hit the arm of Kilman, and the referee drew a penalty. Lucas Paqueta, who had been fouled by Sarabia in the first half, stepped up to the spot and scored the same goal as Sarabia.

West Ham were the ones pushing for the third of the afternoon’s goals. Sa had been alert to stop Ben Johnson from shooting, and Doherty had to stop Kudus putting the ball in an empty net after he had taken the ball past the Wolves keeper.

But five minutes later, the Hammers got their second. Ward-Prowse curled a ball from a corner through the crowded Wolves area, over Sa’s head and into the far post. The gold shirts were unable to get near it.

Wolves believed they had equalised the score in the eighth minute of an extra ten minutes. Kilman’s ball was found inside the box and the captain directed the ball past Fabianski.

After a long VAR check, referee Tony Harrington was sent to the screen. He adjudged that Tawanda was in offside position because he was standing in front of keeper. The goal was ruled invalid, giving the three points to the visiting team.

Full-time | Wolves1-2 West Ham

Wolves | Sa, Semedo Kilman, S. Bueno, Toti, Doherty (H. Bueno 87), Gomes, M. Lemina (Traore 75), Doyle (Chirewa 87), Ait-Nouri (Cunha 55), Sarabia (Chiwome 75).

Unused Subs. | Bentley, Dawson, N. Lemina, Fraser.

West Ham | Fabianski, Coufal (Johnson 45), Zouma, Mavropanos, Emerson, Ward-Prowse, Alvarez, Soucek (Antonio 45), Paqueta, Bowen (Cresswell 55), Kudus.

Subs Unused | Anang, Aguerd, Ogbonna, Phillips, Cornet, Ings.

Referee | Tony Harrington