Chelsea scored their first Premier League goal under Enzo Maresca on Sunday as Nicolas Jackson headed the visitors in front against Wolves at Molineux – but their lead lasted less than 26 minutes before Matheus Cunha equalised.
Maresca made a tricky start to his reign with a 2-0 home defeat against an under-strength Manchester City last Sunday, and Chelsea were unconvincing in their subsequent 2-0 win over Swiss side Servette in the first leg of their Uefa Europa Conference League play-off on Thursday.
The six-time top-flight champions gave the Italian an ideal start to his first away game in charge, though, almost scoring with their first attack before Jackson pounced.
After Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa turned Noni Madueke’s effort behind, Jackson found himself unmarked from a corner to convert the fastest goal of the 2024-25 Premier League season so far.
Off to a flyer! 👏#CFC | #WOLCHE pic.twitter.com/qJIkMyQKD2
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 25, 2024
In a chaotically entertaining first half, Cunha struck back in the 27th minute after Rayan Ait-Nouri capitalised on slackness in possession from Moises Caicedo.
Nicolas Jackson celebration
An apparent confrontation between several players from either side took place after Jackson appeared to goad the home faithful following his goal.
The 23-year-old initially celebrated his connection with Cole Palmer’s delivery with the visiting fans but then seemed to target Wolves supporters.
The majority of Molineux almost had revenge sooner on Jackson when Yerson Mosquera hit the outside of a post for Wolves in the 10th minute.
YEEEEAAAAAAAAASSSSSSS!! CUNHA LEVELS!! pic.twitter.com/0Pj6IScm0h
— Wolves (@Wolves) August 25, 2024
Returning forward Matheus Cunha had the ball in the net six minutes later, only for Jorgen Strand Larsen to be deemed offside during the move.
Chelsea made two changes to their starting line-up, with Wolves enacting one as the teams targeted a first victory of their campaigns.
Gary O’Neil’s side lost 2-0 at Arsenal in their first match but would have taken confidence from their victories in their last three meetings with Chelsea.
Those wins included a 4-2 victory at Stamford Bridge on February 4, when Cunha scored a hat-trick after Palmer had put Chelsea ahead.
