Dougie Freedman fired Wolves into the FA Cup quarter-finals with a dramatic
late winner at Molineux.
The fifth round replay appeared to be heading towards extra time with the
sides locked at 1-1 before the Scot's intervention.
The 24-year-old former Crystal Palace striker had had a quiet night before he
latched on to Mike Stowell's long clearance upfield and advanced into the box
before lashing home from a narrow angle past Neil Sullivan.
It was Freedman's 10th goal of the season and probably his most important.
Wolves boss Mark McGhee was understandably delighted by Freedman's winner which
meant he had led a side into the last eight of the FA Cup for the first time,
where they will now face Leeds away.
Wolves gained the upper hand after a quiet start and Robbie Keane, who was
playing with his broken wrist heavily bandaged, was causing the Crazy Gang a few
anxious moments with his pace.
Mixu Paatelainen was also enjoying a bright opening and he shot just over from
just inside the area.
But just as Wolves thought they were in control, back came Wimbledon and on
the half hour they created three chances in as many minutes.
First Jason Euell wasted a great chance when he mishit his shot after he had
been played through by Michael Hughes.
Stowell then saved Vinnie Jones' volley before stopping Chris Perry's header
from a Neal Ardley corner.
Wolves responded and Carl Robinson's deflected effort was smothered by
Sullivan before Hughes shot straight at Stowell.
Six minutes from half-time, Paul Simpson replaced Steve Sedgley, who had only
passed a late fitness test on his foot to play, and a minute later Wimbledon
brought Stewart Castledine on for Duncan Jupp.
Stowell reacted brilliantly to deny Wimbledon the lead two minutes later when
he tipped Marcus Gayle's powerful header over the bar from six yards out.
Wimbledon finally managed to beat Stowell three minutes after the interval
when former Crazy Gang member Keith Curle was forced to concede a corner.
Ardley curled the ball into the middle and Jones headed home from eight yards
out for his first goal of the season.
The Wimbledon captain, who is the only survivor of the Dons' 1988 FA Cup
success, did little to further endear himself to the home fans when he stood in
front of them with his arms aloft in celebration.
Wolves went in search of an equaliser and Sullivan saved Keane's fine effort
from the edge of the area at the expense of a corner, before Paatelainen blazed
wide after he had been released by Freedman.
Robinson hauled the First Division side level with his fourth goal of the
season after 62 minutes when he stole in at the back to head home Mark Atkins'
right-wing cross.
Gayle should have restored the Dons' lead after 74 minutes when Dean Richards
gifted him the ball from Peter Fear's cross, but the Wimbledon striker blazed
wide from close range.
Hughes twisted his way past two Wolves defenders and crossed to the back post,
where Richards was forced to nod the ball away for a corner.
With eight minutes to go, Simpson took a short corner with Keane and sent over
a cross which Robinson narrowly failed to convert at the back post.
Then just as it seemed this match would finish 1-1 after 90 minutes like the
first at Selhurst Park, up stepped Freedman to send Wolves into the last eight
for the third time in five years. end
Teams
Wolverhampton: Stowell, Atkins, Naylor, Sedgley (Simpson 38),
Richards, Curle, Paatelainen, Robinson, Keane (Williams 86),
Freedman (Bull 89), Osborn.
Subs Not Used: Murray, Muscat.
Booked: Keane.
Goals: Robinson 63, Freedman 85.
Wimbledon: Sullivan, Jones, Blackwell, Thatcher, Gayle, Perry,
Hughes, Ardley, Jupp (Castledine 41), Euell (Clarke 87),
Fear (Cort 86).
Subs Not Used: Heald, Reeves.
Goals: Jones 48.
Att: 25,112
Ref: U D Rennie (Sheffield).
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