Raúl Jiménez delivered a stoppage-time lifeline for Wolves on August 14, 2026, scoring the late penalty that rescued a 2-2 draw against Blackburn Rovers at Molineux. The storyline was personal from the first whistle—his return to the club came with immediate pressure—then swung on one moment of ruthless execution: 90’+3′. It’s the kind of comeback finish that leaves fans celeb
2026 curtain-raiser: Wolves 2-2 Blackburn at Molineux
The EFL Championship curtain-raiser at Molineux unfolded like a tense relay race. Wolves struck first, with Marshall Munetsi scoring in the 18th minute, giving the home side an early platform. Blackburn answered quickly to flip momentum, as Sean McLoughlin levelled the rhythm with a goal in the 27th minute, before Andri Guðjohnsen put Blackburn ahead again in the 48th minute.
That 2-1 Blackburn lead is what made Jiménez’s late intervention feel inevitable in hindsight, not because the game was finished—because Wolves were still looking for a final punch. And that’s exactly how it ended: the equaliser arrived via a stoppage-time penalty that followed Ryan Alebiosu handling Jackson Tchatchoua’s cross. With the clock deep into added time, Jiménez converted the penalty to make it 2-2 and turn the script at the final possible moment.
2026-06 contract backdrop: why this Wolves return mattered
Worth noting: Jiménez’s return wasn’t just a feel-good headline—it was tied to a clear commitment from Wolves. He came back to the club after signing a two-year contract with a one-year option, agreed on June 9, 2026. For Wolves supporters, the timing carried extra weight because his on-pitch impact had already been proven in Wolves colours earlier in his career.
He previously scored 57 goals in 166 appearances for Wolves between 2018 and 2023, building a track record that made his return feel like more than a squad transaction. ESPN’s match coverage framed his late penalty as his first official league goal for Wolves after 1311 days away from the club, underlining how long the waiting period was before this specific moment could land. See the match write-up and ongoing coverage on ESPN’s football pages for context around his comeback narrative.
90’+3′ turning point: how the penalty arrived and who it hurt
Here’s the thing: the penalty sequence was the final link in a chain of late-game pressure and decisive attacking intent. The equaliser didn’t come from a random scramble at midfield; it came from a delivered ball—Jackson Tchatchoua’s cross—that forced contact in the box after Alebiosu handled. That is the sort of set-piece-adjacent detail that often decides games, because it turns a dangerous moment into an unavoidable consequence.
Once the stoppage-time penalty was awarded, Jiménez did what elite centre-forwards and comeback forwards are paid to do: he scored at the 90’+3′ mark. The psychological effect was immediate—Blackburn had protected their lead for long enough to believe the points were gone, then had to watch them slip away in the last breath.
It’s also a reminder that Wolves’ early goal—Munetsi’s strike at 18′—couldn’t fully stabilise the game. Blackburn’s 27′ and 48′ goals meant Wolves were always chasing answers, and Jiménez’s return goal didn’t just rescue a point; it rescued belief that the game could still be turned, even after conceding twice.
Early season reality: Wolves take 1 point, Blackburn feel the sting
The result gave Wolves 1 point from their first league match of the season, a foundation that looks modest on paper but carries real meaning when it’s earned after conceding a lead. Blackburn will feel frustrated because they held advantages at 48′ and beyond—enough to make the final outcome feel harsh rather than earned by time added. For Wolves, though, the takeaway is clearer: they can still find answers late, but they’ll need to fix the defensive distance and game-state management that allowed two Blackburn goals after the first breakthrough.
That said, the match offers Wolves a powerful platform for confidence: a returning hero scoring his first league goal since a long absence is exactly the emotional fuel teams want when the season begins. Worth noting: coverage across BBC Sport’s football pages typically tracks how early points are built—and this one arrived with a dramatic stamp.
What’s next: Wolves must turn a draw into control
Wolves now have a clear decision to make in the next fixtures—repeat the late-game intensity or build a more stable structure that doesn’t require miracles to survive. Blackburn, meanwhile, will aim to keep the same offensive phases but tighten their ability to close out games when stoppage time arrives.
For Wolves, the forward signal is obvious: if Jiménez can deliver a match-equalising penalty in a tense return, then the squad needs to feed him more of the moments that lead to those box incidents. The next step is turning this kind of fight into results that don’t hinge on the very last kick.
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FAQs
Who scored the late equaliser for Wolves?
Raúl Jiménez scored a penalty at 90’+3′ to rescue a 2-2 draw for Wolves.
Why was Jiménez’s return so significant?
He returned to Wolves on a two-year deal with a one-year option signed June 9, 2026, and his strike was described as his first official league goal for Wolves after 1311 days away.
What were the key goal minutes in Wolves vs Blackburn?
Wolves led first through Marshall Munetsi (18′), Blackburn went 2-1 up via Sean McLoughlin (27′) and Andri Guðjohnsen (48′), before Jiménez equalised at 90’+3′.
How did the result affect Wolves’ season start?
The draw left Wolves with 1 point from their first league match of the season.
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