Wolves U21s manager James Collins praised Kam Kandola, after he played as a goalkeeper for over 70 minutes against West Ham United at Aggborough on Monday.
The team were beaten 5-0 by the Hammers, after Palmi Arinbjornsson received a red card early on.
Arinbjornsson misjudged a ball over the top and took down Kamari Swyer.
Referee Scott Simpson had no option but to dismiss him.
With no goalkeeper on the bench, Kandola was forced to go in goal for Wolves – and remarkably, he actually saved the penalty from Swyer that Arinbjornsson had conceded.
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It was a great stop to his right as well, with Swyer putting decent power behind his effort.
Despite that brilliant moment from Kandola, Wolves could do little to contain their opponents.
Wolves were on the back foot for the contest as a result of the sending off, with West Ham smelling blood.
Just before the half hour mark, Regan Clayton’s corner took a touch off Kandola and went in to given them their breakthrough.
Clayton then added a second moments later.
In the second-half, there was another slice of luck for West Ham, with Kandola spilling across onto the back of Christian Marques for an own goal.
Further goals came from Lewis Orford and Archie Woods.
It was a tough night for Wolves in difficult conditions and circumstances.
But Collins made sure to praise Kandola after the game for stepping up.
He told Wolves’ official website: “When you’re in that moment, it takes a lot to say I’ll do it. To know you’re going on for a penalty and plus you’ve got 70/75 minutes to play in goal in a proper game of football, it takes courage.
“Straight away he said ‘yes, I’m up for that’. It says everything about the boy, what a kid.
“He made some brilliant saves and one or two mistakes, but you’d expect that. Credit to him and hopefully that was an experience for him – not one he’ll have expected but hopefully he’ll gain something as a person and character from it.”
Kam Kandola deserves major plaudits as youngster plays as a goalkeeper for Wolves U21s
Every now and then in football something like this happens.
And when it does, the player that goes in goal always deserves immense credit.
It is surely a very daunting prospect to play in goal, especially at that standard.
Kandola has come in for high praise from Collins and rightly so. It takes guts and he gave a good account of himself despite a couple of mistakes.