Sports Reporter
TAWANDA Chirewa made an immediate impact in Wolverhampton Wanderers’ colours while compatriot Leon Chiwome marked his return from injury with a late goal that earned the Wolves Under-21 side a draw in their opening Premier League Cup fixture at Norwich City on Tuesday.
Chirewa made his debut just a day after he was unveiled at the Molineux on a four-year contract.
It took him only eight minutes to make his presence count in the team as he provided the assist for the opening goal in the 2-2 away draw at Norwich’s Lotus Training Centre.
Neat play from back to front saw defender Kamran Kandola feed the ball into the feet of the 19-year-old debutant Chirewa who expertly threaded a defence-splitting pass in behind the Norwich defence, which Ethan McLeod latched onto and clinically fired in at the near post, for his first goal of the campaign.
However, the Canaries fought back through Ken Aboh and Harry Brooke either side of the half.
Wolves made a double change shortly after the hour mark as Chiwome and Mason Rees both came on, with the former making his first appearance of the season following a period out injured.
And, Chiwome had half an opening as the Old Gold searched for a way back into the game.
The striker did well to find space inside the penalty area and some good work from Marvin Kaleta saw him picked out in the centre, but Chiwome couldn’t divert his header on target.
Chiwome, however, ensured the Wolves under-21s took a share of the spoils when he found the equaliser two minutes from time.
Aaron Keto-Diyawa delivered a peach of a ball into the area and Chiwome got the first contact, before poking beyond the goalkeeper from a few yards out.
Wolves under-21s are back on the road on Sunday afternoon, as they travel to face Liverpool in Premier League 2.
Wolves are home to three young Zimbabweans prospects – Chirewa, Chiwome (17) and 16-year-old Josh Nyakudya – who are eligible to play senior national team football for both Zimbabwe and England.
Chiwome, who was last year named among the brightest young talents in the Premier League by the Guardian, has since featured in the England Under-17 side.
Another Zimbabwean prodigy, Tawanda Maswanhise, was involved in heavy defeat when his Leicester Under-12 side fell to 7-1 EFL Trophy reverse at Wigan Athletic on Tuesday evening.
Maswanhise was introduced as a 67th minute substitute.