Raúl Jiménez salvages draw for Wolves against Blackburn
Raúl Jiménez struck from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time to salvage a 2-2 draw for Wolves against Blackburn Rovers in tonight’s Sky Bet Championship curtain-raiser at Molineux, reports BritPanorama.
The Mexican forward, introduced as a second-half substitute, converted in the 92nd minute after referee Farai Hallam judged that Ryan Alebiosu had handled a cross inside the area.
Kieran Trippier, Wolves’ headline summer acquisition, made his first appearance in the second tier since earning promotion with Burnley back in 2014, starting the match before being replaced later in the contest. Tony Mowbray, back at Blackburn for a second stint as manager, saw his side twice take the lead only to be denied victory at the death by Jiménez’s composure from twelve yards.
Both sides spent the opening ten minutes cautiously sizing each other up, with neither creating a clear opportunity. Afolayan produced the first effort on goal, heading over from close range, before Morishita tested Dan Bentley with a shot that drew the evening’s first save.
Wolves seized the advantage almost immediately afterwards, Munetsi cutting through Blackburn’s rearguard to slot past Balázs Tóth on 17 minutes. The lead proved short-lived, though, as Morishita’s inviting delivery was met by McLoughlin, whose header marked his first competitive goal since the 2019/20 campaign. Harry Pickering collected the season’s inaugural yellow card shortly after, with Cantwell following him into the referee’s book.
Mateus Mané threatened to restore Wolves’ advantage before the interval but fired high from distance, and the teams went in level at the break. Afolayan opened the second half by forcing a brilliant fingertip save from Bentley, then turned provider moments later with a precise square ball that Gudjohnsen dispatched first time to put Rovers ahead.
Jiménez’s arrival from the bench was greeted by rousing chants of “Sí Señor” from the Molineux faithful. The striker initially had penalty appeals waved away before firing a free-kick into the wall as Wolves grew increasingly frustrated.
Blackburn came close to extending their advantage in the 85th minute when Fevrier won a corner, only for Yerson Mosquera to hook the ball off the line to keep his side in the contest. With supporters already streaming towards the exits, Hallam pointed to the spot after Alebiosu’s handball, and Jiménez duly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way with a characteristically long, stuttering run-up.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the final whistle, Jiménez expressed his delight at marking his return with a goal. “It’s really amazing to be back and scoring in the first game in the league. It’s not the result we were looking for,” he said. The striker, who purchased scarves for every supporter in the South Bank, explained the gesture: “It’s nice to give them back some love they were showing me for the past eight years. Even when I was not here at the club, they were showing me their love.”
On where Wolves must improve, Jiménez was candid: “We need to control better the game. We need to keep moving the ball and try and make them feel desperate. We need to learn and keep going. It’s just the start.”
As the season unfolds, it’s clear that Jiménez’s return brings a wave of optimism. How the new dynamics settle within this squad may well define their campaign ahead — a compelling narrative in the drama that is the Championship.
