The Mexico international made the difference with his first finish since last October as his side secured the three points at St Mary’s Stadium
Raul Jimenez scored his first goal for Wolves since coming back from injury as they beat Southampton 1-0 on Sunday.
The Mexico international suffered a fractured skull last November and was kept out of action until his return at the start of this season.
The 30-year-old slotted in the decisive goal of the game against Southampton after 61 minutes, 11 months since his last goal which came against Newcastle.
What was Raul JImenez’s goal like?
The Wolves star ran on to a long pass from goalkeeper Jose Sa, beating Southampton defender Jan Bednarek in a physical tussle to get the ball.
336 – Raúl Jiménez has scored his first Premier League goal in 336 days, since netting against Newcastle in October 2020 – this was his 15th attempt in the competition this season. Breakthrough. pic.twitter.com/KlcnKT8bhp
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 26, 2021
He then cut in to evade the tackle of Mohammed Salisu and dragged the ball back, sending Bednarek sliding past him, before sending it beyond the onrushing Alex McCarthy.
The goal is his 35th in the Premier League for Wolves.
What was said?
After the game, Jimenez told Sky Sports: “I want to score every game, I knew the goal was coming, I was fighting for it, working for it and all the team deserve it.
“I was thinking ‘When will the goal come?’ It felt really good. Four of our five games have been incredible, we need to keep going like this. We did a really good job.
“The fans are always with us, supporting. It is really important for our team to have them supporting and shouting.”
How has he performed this season?
The former Benfica star has been played the full 90 minutes in all of his side’s Premier League matches this term.
Despite his inability to find the net in their first five games, Wolves coach Bruno Lage tipped him to get up and running ahead of Sunday’s encounter.
He told reporters on Friday: “Every day he’s working hard in the training to try and score goals. He knows he has that pressure on his shoulders, but for now the analysis I did with him, the way he’s creating chances, he needs to continue to work.
“He knows he needs to score goals, our fans are waiting for him to score goals, he scored goals in pre-season, and they are coming.
“We scored two in the last game and the pressure is not just on him, the pressure is for all the players in the team to play the way we are playing.”
Be the first to comment