{"id":23775,"date":"2021-11-01T07:13:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-01T11:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23775"},"modified":"2021-11-03T12:17:03","modified_gmt":"2021-11-03T16:17:03","slug":"jimenez-scores-first-molineux-goal-in-over-a-year-to-cap-wolves-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23775","title":{"rendered":"Jim\u00e9nez Scores First Molineux Goal In Over A Year To Cap Wolves’ Victory"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Raul Jimenez celebrates his goal against Everton (PA Wire\/PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Raul Jim\u00e9nez bagged his first Molineux goal for over a year to inspire Wolves to a narrow 2-1 win over Everton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The forward, fit again after recovering from a life-threatening fractured skull 12 months ago, scored at home for the first time since October 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was also his 50th goal for Wolves \u2013 and second of the season \u2013 as the Mexico international proved beyond doubt he has lost nothing following the horror injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Max Kilman\u2019s first goal for the hosts set them on their way and they now sit seventh in the Premier League.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They lost four of their first five under Bruno Lage but are now unbeaten in five games, winning four, to join the clutch of clubs around the European spots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wolves moved above Everton, despite Alex Iwobi\u2019s second-half goal threatening a comeback following the Toffees\u2019 aimless first half, and Rafa Benitez\u2019s side have lost their last three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ruben Neves set the tone early when his sharp volley tested Jordan Pickford, with Mason Holgate hacking away Conor Coady\u2019s attempted follow up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In front of watching England boss Gareth Southgate, Pickford was in action again soon after when he turned Francisco Trincao\u2019s fine 25-yard effort over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet even Pickford needed bailing out by VAR when Hwang Hee-chan broke through after 18 minutes as Everton struggled to contain the bright and efficient hosts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jim\u00e9nez\u2019s fine run ended with him slipping in Hwang, who squeezed the ball into the corner from six yards, but Wolves\u2019 celebrations were cut short with the striker fractionally offside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everton were clearly smarting from last week\u2019s 5-2 humbling at home to Watford and appeared to have picked up where they left off during the chaotic late defeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, the Toffees conceded four in the final 12 minutes and they imploded again by conceding two in four minutes thanks to calamitous defending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After 28 minutes Jim\u00e9nez won a corner for Rayan Ait-Nouri to sling in and Kilman beat Michael Keane, Andros Townsend and Ben Godfrey to head past Pickford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was the defender\u2019s first goal for Wolves, with his only other career strike coming for Maidenhead against Dover three years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then Jim\u00e9nez got the goal he had waited over a year for when Godfrey gift-wrapped it for him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The defender\u2019s woeful back pass lacked any weight to reach Pickford and Jim\u00e9nez caught Holgate on his heels to race through and dink the ball over the exposed goalkeeper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite Wolves\u2019 dominance Demarai Gray and Holgate missed fine chances at the end of the half and Fabian Delph replaced Jean-Philippe Gbamin \u2013 who made just his second league start for Everton since joining in 2019 \u2013 at the break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anything above the lackluster first half would have been an improvement and the Toffees showed glimpses of a fightback, Kilman blocking a Gray drive, before Jose Sa escaped embarrassment 10 minutes after the break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goalkeeper\u2019s clearance was charged down by Richarlison but he recovered in time to deny the striker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The much-improved visitors then survived when Jim\u00e9nez\u2019s header hit a post before Iwobi struck to test Wolves\u2019 nerves with 24 minutes left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Godfrey\u2019s speculative drive from distance was blocked by Coady but it fell straight to the previously anonymous Iwobi to finish under Sa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wolves regrouped and Trincao poked wide while referee Martin Atkinson changed his mind after initially awarding a penalty for Holgate\u2019s foul on Trincao, only to give a free-kick outside the box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sa then clinched Wolves\u2019 win with a stunning one-handed save to turn away Anthony Gordon\u2019s header with four minutes left.<\/p>\n

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