Jimenez scores late penalty for Wolves in 2-2 draw with Blackburn
Jimenez Secures Draw on Return
Wolverhampton Wanderers secured a 2-2 draw against Blackburn Rovers at Molineux, with Raul Jimenez scoring a stoppage-time penalty on his return to the club. The match, played on Friday, August 14, 2026, saw Jimenez enter the game from the bench and convert the crucial spot-kick, salvaging a point for Cesar Peixoto’s side.
The home side initially took the lead through Marshall Munetsi, who finished neatly after receiving a pass from Fer Lopez. However, Blackburn responded with a goal from Sean McLoughlin, who headed in from Ryoya Morishita’s right-wing cross, bringing the score level.
Blackburn then took the lead early in the second half when Andri Gudjohnsen converted from close range, stunning the majority of the 30,984 spectators at Molineux. This goal came after Morishita played an intelligent reverse ball to Afolayan, who then picked out Gudjohnsen.
Wolves introduced Jimenez from the bench around the 60-minute mark, marking his first appearance for the club since 2023. Despite the change, Wolves struggled to create clear-cut chances after Blackburn took the lead, with the home supporters expressing dissatisfaction with the perceived lack of urgency.
The decisive moment arrived when Jackson Tchatchoua’s left-wing cross struck the hand of Ryan Alebiosu inside the box, leading the referee to award a penalty. Jimenez stepped up and converted the penalty, securing the draw.
Reaction from Both Camps
Following the match, Jimenez expressed his excitement about returning to Molineux and scoring in the first game of the season. He acknowledged that the result was not what the team desired for their first home game and emphasized the need to learn from the experience. Jimenez also mentioned giving out ‘Si Senor’ scarves to supporters in the Sir Jack Hayward Stand as a gesture of appreciation for their continued support.
Wolves boss Cesar Peixoto stated that the team wanted to win and felt they were better in the first half, creating numerous situations without scoring. He noted that in the second half, the team suffered more and conceded a goal, leading them to play with more heart than tactical discipline. Peixoto highlighted the players’ effort and fighting spirit until the end, but stressed the need for improvement and better organization.
Peixoto also commented on the atmosphere at Molineux, describing the stadium as amazing with a supportive crowd. However, he observed that when things do not go as planned, players can struggle with the expectation and revert to playing with emotion rather than strategy, a phenomenon he linked to past frustrations.
On the Blackburn side, manager Tony Mowbray questioned the penalty decision, stating that still pictures suggested the contact occurred outside the box. He acknowledged that if the ball hit the hand away from the body, it might be considered a penalty in modern football, but maintained his view that it was outside the area.
Mowbray also revealed that he had heard pundits tipping his Blackburn team for relegation before the season began. He used these predictions as motivation for his players, stating that the team showed enough quality to challenge even stronger teams in the league. Ryan Alebiosu, named Player of the Match, expressed frustration with the late penalty call, believing the contact was outside the box, but praised his team’s overall performance and belief that they can achieve good results if they continue to play with the same intensity.
Blackburn players like Morishita, Alebiosu, and McLoughlin were noted for their standout performances. Mowbray also made tactical substitutions, introducing Fevrier and Ohashi to stretch Wolves on the break, a move described as smart management. The match concluded with Blackburn creating a quick chance after the penalty, with Garrett testing Bentley, who tipped the ball around the post.
Source: skysports.com
