Matheus Cunha apologises to Wolves fans after going from hero to zero following red card for headbutt in FA Cup exit
Wolves talisman Matheus Cunha left his side a man down and out of the FA Cup with a bizarre last minute red card. With the match level and heading into extra-time stoppage-time, the Brazilian forward lashed out at Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez in shocking scenes. Cunha gave the referee no choiceAFP He’d earlier scored a stunner to keep his side aliveGetty The Hungarian defender pulled at his shirt and Cunha lashed out with his arms, gifting Kerkez the opportunity to hit the deck, and then he was put back there from a headbutt after standing back up. Bournemouth’s Tyler Adams had to wrestle the Wolves captain away, and the referee had a simple decision to send him off. That left Wolves a man down for the shootout, with Cunha playing his part in getting them there. His earlier equaliser in the 60th minute, cancelling out Evanilson’s opener to force extra time. And what a goal it was, too, as he beat the keeper from 30 yards with a sweet strike into the top corner for his 15th of the season in all competitions. Yet with their best player missing, Wolves couldn’t get the job done from the spot and crashed out in dramatic scenes. Dean Huijsen missed for the hosts to give Wolves a shoot-out advantage, but Matt Doherty then did the same to force sudden death. There, Boubacar Traore missed again for Wolves, sending the visitors out when Cunha could well have been crucial in the shoot-out. Taking to his Instagram story after his moment of madness, Cunha apologised to the Wolves faithful. Sharing an image of his dejected teammates, he wrote: “In the end another game where you guys did your best. The referee won’t have an easier decision all seasonRex He’s earlier scored a stunner to level things up Cunha was apologetic on social media following his sending offInstagram: @Cunha “I couldn’t lose my head at the end. Sorry.” Cunha has been the difference for Vitor Pereira’s side this season, scoring 15 goals and managing four assists. Yet they’ll now have to do with their talisman for an extended period thanks to two reasons. One is the headbutt being violent conduct, and the other his that the 25-year-old has already been suspended this season. In December he was handed a three-match ban, reduced to two, for pulling off an Ipswich staff member’s glasses during a touchline scrap. With that factored in, Cunha is expected to miss at least four games, which are Everton, Southampton, West Ham and Ipswich. Thanks to Cunha it looked like Wolves were pulling out of the relegation picture, but without their star man the five-point gap to the bottom three could well start to disappear. As for Bournemouth, the Champions League-chasing Cherries are now through to the FA Cup quarter finals for only the third time in their history, and look well on course for one of their greatest-ever seasons.
Wolves talisman Matheus Cunha left his side a man down and out of the FA Cup with a bizarre last minute red card.
With the match level and heading into extra-time stoppage-time, the Brazilian forward lashed out at Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez in shocking scenes.
The Hungarian defender pulled at his shirt and Cunha lashed out with his arms, gifting Kerkez the opportunity to hit the deck, and then he was put back there from a headbutt after standing back up.
Bournemouth’s Tyler Adams had to wrestle the Wolves captain away, and the referee had a simple decision to send him off.
That left Wolves a man down for the shootout, with Cunha playing his part in getting them there.
His earlier equaliser in the 60th minute, cancelling out Evanilson’s opener to force extra time.
And what a goal it was, too, as he beat the keeper from 30 yards with a sweet strike into the top corner for his 15th of the season in all competitions.
Yet with their best player missing, Wolves couldn’t get the job done from the spot and crashed out in dramatic scenes.
Dean Huijsen missed for the hosts to give Wolves a shoot-out advantage, but Matt Doherty then did the same to force sudden death.
There, Boubacar Traore missed again for Wolves, sending the visitors out when Cunha could well have been crucial in the shoot-out.
Taking to his Instagram story after his moment of madness, Cunha apologised to the Wolves faithful.
Sharing an image of his dejected teammates, he wrote: “In the end another game where you guys did your best.
“I couldn’t lose my head at the end. Sorry.”
Cunha has been the difference for Vitor Pereira’s side this season, scoring 15 goals and managing four assists.
Yet they’ll now have to do with their talisman for an extended period thanks to two reasons.
One is the headbutt being violent conduct, and the other his that the 25-year-old has already been suspended this season.
In December he was handed a three-match ban, reduced to two, for pulling off an Ipswich staff member’s glasses during a touchline scrap.
With that factored in, Cunha is expected to miss at least four games, which are Everton, Southampton, West Ham and Ipswich.
Thanks to Cunha it looked like Wolves were pulling out of the relegation picture, but without their star man the five-point gap to the bottom three could well start to disappear.
As for Bournemouth, the Champions League-chasing Cherries are now through to the FA Cup quarter finals for only the third time in their history, and look well on course for one of their greatest-ever seasons.
