Soccer-Wolves boost Champions League hopes with 3-0 win over Everton

WOLVERHAMPTON, England, July 12 (Reuters) - Wolverhampton Wanderers boosted their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League with a 3-0 home win over Everton in the Premier League on Sunday.

Victory lifted Nuno Espirito Santo's side up to sixth in the standings -- four points behind fourth-placed Leicester City who play Bournemouth later on Sunday.

Wolves took the lead in first-half stoppage time when Daniel Podence was fouled by Lucas Digne and Raul Jimenez maintained his 100% penalty conversion rate this season to score his 16th goal of the league campaign.

Leander Dendoncker doubled the lead straight after the interval when he directed a glancing header past the outstretched arm of Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

Diogo Jota made it 3-0 after midfielder Ruben Neves found him with a pinpoint cross-field ball and the Portuguese forward chested it down before firing an emphatic half-volley past Pickford at the near post.

Everton remained in 11th place with three matches left in the season. (Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)