Raúl Jiménez marked his second Molineux homecoming with a dramatic stoppage-time penalty, sparing Wolverhampton Wanderers a defeat on their first match back in the Championship after nine years in the Premier League. The visitors, Blackburn Rovers, twice came from behind to lead before Jiménez's composed finish secured a 2-2 draw.
The Mexico international, who famously scored against England at the World Cup, converted from the spot after referees judged that Rayan Alebiosu had handled Jackson Tchatchoua's cross inside the area. With VAR no longer part of the Championship setup, the decision stood unchallenged, and Jiménez made no mistake, netting his first goal since rejoining the club he starred for during a golden period under Nuno Espírito Santo.
It was an emotional occasion for the striker, who had bought scarves for every supporter in the South Bank stand as a gesture of thanks for the warm reception he received on his return. By the hour mark, fans were swinging those scarves in the air and chanting his name, sensing a moment of magic was coming from the veteran forward, who began the match on the bench following a delayed pre-season after his World Cup exertions.
Cesar Peixoto's first game in charge of Wolves, however, offered plenty of reasons for caution alongside the late relief. The Portuguese head coach, who arrives with no prior experience in English football after guiding Gil Vicente to sixth in Portugal's top flight, saw his high-pressing approach exploited on the counter by a well-organized Blackburn side under Tony Mowbray, the former West Bromwich Albion boss.
Wolves had made the ideal start when Marshall Munetsi, back at Molineux following a loan spell at Paris FC, latched onto a delightful pass from Fer López and finished coolly with his left foot to give the hosts an early lead. López, another player reintegrated into the squad after a loan at Celta Vigo, looked the most polished performer on the pitch and was unlucky not to double the advantage when his effort curled just wide.
But gaps left by Wolves' attacking approach were repeatedly punished. Blackburn drew level when Sean McLoughlin timed his run perfectly to head home from a precise right-wing delivery by Ryoya Morishita, beating goalkeeper Dan Bentley. Rovers, who finished 20th last season and made limited additions in the transfer window, continued to cause problems down that flank, particularly with Norway left-back David Møller Wolfe deputizing for the injured Hugo Bueno.
Early in the second half, Oladapo Afolayan forced a smart save from Bentley before again finding space to cross for Andri Gudjohnsen, who got ahead of his marker to turn the ball in and put Blackburn 2-1 up.
Wolves searched for an equalizer as the match progressed, with Jiménez seeing a free-kick blocked by the wall before setting up substitute Tommy Doyle, whose effort flew over the bar after what appeared to be a handball in the build-up. Peixoto also made bold changes late on, withdrawing Kieran Trippier and introducing young players Pedro Lima and Tawanda Chirewa as Wolves shifted to a 4-4-2 in search of a winner.
That winner never arrived, but Jiménez's late penalty ensured Wolves avoided an opening-day defeat in their new-look Championship era. With expectations high after a turbulent summer that saw Rob Edwards depart in surprising fashion, Peixoto will know that patience among supporters remains limited, even if the mood inside Molineux stayed largely positive by full time.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.