Jimenez Stuns Blackburn with 93rd-Minute Penalty in 2-2 Thriller

Wolves 2-2 Blackburn: Championship Opener Ends in Dramatic Stalemate

Raul Jimenez slammed home a 93rd-minute penalty to salvage a barely deserved 2-2 draw for Wolves against Blackburn Rovers in a Championship opener that crackled with controversy, three yellow cards and a grandstand finish at Molineux.

Munetsi Heads Wolves Into Early Lead

The hosts started like a house on fire, Marshall Munetsi powering home Fer Lopez’s 18th-minute cross with a thunderous header that left Balazs Toth rooted. Wolves’ 55% possession dominance told early, but Blackburn’s response was brutal. Sean McLoughlin rose highest to nod Ryoya Morishita’s free-kick past Daniel Bentley on 27 minutes, sparking a chaotic eight-minute spell where Harry Pickering, Todd Cantwell and Adam Forshaw all saw yellow.

Gudjohnsen Stuns Molineux Before Jimenez’s Redemption

Blackburn emerged transformed after halftime, Andri Gudjohnsen clinically finishing Oladapo Afolayan’s cutback just three minutes in. Wolves’ frustration boiled over when Mateus Mane was booked for a wild lunge before being hooked for Jimenez on the hour. The Mexican’s introduction changed everything – his movement unnerved Blackburn’s tiring backline, and when Tom Atcheson handled in stoppage time, Jimenez kept his nerve from the spot to spark pandemonium in the South Bank.

What This Result Means

For Wolves, this smash-and-grab point papers over worrying cracks – their xG of 2.04 flattered a disjointed attack, with only 3 shots on target from 18 attempts. Tony Mowbray’s Blackburn will rue game management after their second-half dominance (5 shots on target to Wolves’ 3) went unrewarded. Both sides face crucial tests next: Wolves travel to Coventry while Blackburn host newly-relegated Burnley in a Lancashire derby that already feels pivotal.

Key Moments

18′ ⚽ Wolves — M. Munetsi (assist: F. Lopez)

27′ ⚽ Blackburn — S. McLoughlin (assist: R. Morishita)

48′ ⚽ Blackburn — A. Gudjohnsen (assist: O. Afolayan)

90+3′ ⚽ Wolves — R. Jimenez

🔮 Before kick-off: our match preview & prediction.