Tolu Arokodare found the net once more against top-tier opposition, but his goal proved only a consolation as Chelsea secured a 3–1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
The Nigerian striker pulled one back in the 54th minute after Chelsea had already raced into a commanding 3–0 lead before the break, inspired by a devastating first-half hat-trick from Cole Palmer. Palmer’s clinical finishing put the Blues firmly in control and left the visitors facing an uphill task for the remainder of the contest.
Arokodare, however, continued to show his fighting spirit and eye for goal. The forward capitalised on a moment of space inside the box to reduce the deficit, registering his second Premier League goal of the season — notably both coming against top-six sides, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Despite the defeat, Arokodare’s performance was a bright spot for his struggling side. He played the full 90 minutes, leading the line with physical presence and determination as his team battled to find momentum.
The loss leaves the visitors rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table with just eight points after 25 matches, as their relegation battle grows increasingly difficult. For Chelsea, the win strengthens their push for a strong finish to the season, while Arokodare’s goal underlined his growing reputation as a striker capable of delivering on the biggest stages.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
