Raúl Jiménez’s stoppage‑time penalty rescues Wolves at Molineux in Championship return

Raúl Jiménez scored an injury‑time penalty at Molineux on 14 August 2026 to earn Wolves a point against Blackburn Rovers in their return to the Championship. The stoppage‑time spot‑kick prevented what would have been an embarrassing opening to their league campaign.

Jiménez marked his return to Wolves with the equaliser after having scored against England during the World Cup finals and buying scarves for supporters in the South Bank as a gesture of thanks. The penalty — awarded for a handball by Rayan Alebiosu after Jackson Tchatchoua’s cross struck his arm — was converted despite VAR likely having queried whether the defender was inside the area; the article notes the video assistant referee is no longer the club’s problem. This was Jiménez’s first goal in his second spell at the club.

Wolves had taken an early lead when Marshall Munetsi finished left‑footed following a sumptuous pass from Fer López, Munetsi returning to Molineux after a loan at Paris FC. López, back from a loan at Celta Vigo and tasked with the No 10 role, curled a shot narrowly wide as Wolves pressed for a second before half‑time.

Blackburn responded twice to overturn the lead. Ryoya Morishita’s right‑wing cross found Sean McLoughlin, who timed his run off André to head past Dan Bentley and level the game, and later Oladapo Afolayan drew a save from Bentley before delivering the cross that Andri Gudjohnsen turned in for Blackburn’s second.

Cesar Peixoto’s promised front‑footed high press, which the article says worked in pre‑season and in the Carabao Cup win over Port Vale, left Wolves vulnerable on transitions and contributed to Blackburn creating chances. David Møller Wolfe started at left‑back for the injured Hugo Bueno, Kieran Trippier provided a ball for Mateus Mané whose shot flew over, and Trippier was later withdrawn as Peixoto reshuffled.

Jiménez began the match on the bench after a late start to pre‑season following his World Cup campaign, struck a free‑kick into the wall and played a pass for substitute Tommy Doyle whose effort went over after an apparent handling incident. With roughly 10 minutes remaining Peixoto switched to a 4‑4‑2, bringing on youngsters Pedro Lima and Tawanda Chirewa, and in stoppage time Jiménez kept his composure from the spot to level; the South Bank waved the scarves he had given out and chanted "Si Senor."

Cesar Peixoto’s first league match in charge ended with Wolves taking a single point from the fixture, a result the article describes as fortunate against an unfancied Blackburn side managed by former West Bromwich Albion boss Tony Mowbray, who finished 20th last season.