Raul Jimenez scores deflected goal to give Wolves rope-a-dope win over Leeds

Mike McGrath
·19 min read
Raul Jimenez shoots - Getty
Raul Jimenez shoots - Getty

Wolves had earned the huge slice of luck needed for Raul Jimenez’s winner after turning this game around with rope-a-dope tactics to beat a Marcelo Bielsa team.

They looked overrun at times in the first half, dominated by Bielsa’s high-energy game that created chances but not goals. Then as Leeds’ energy ran down, Raul provided the sucker punch.

Looking like a Portugal international in his maroon and green kit, Raul went on a run Cristiano Ronaldo would be happy with. The Mexican glided around two players towards the edge of the penalty area but his finish was pure good fortune.

Kalvin Phillips stuck his head out and Raul’s seemingly-harmless shot was diverted into the net, sending Wolves into the top six after a tactical battle between Nuno Espirito Santo and Bielsa.

“In all Premier League games there is a battle with tactics but after that it is about players,” Nuno said. “They are an amazing team with their energy. In terms of fitness and energy we were much better than before. We had chances before and after the goal.

“It's about the identity. We have to recognise that we needed to be organised to stay in the game and then the character was evident.”

Nuno admitted afterwards that he looked to use a diagonal ball to Leeds’ left-back area, bypassing the crowded midfield where the hosts had assumed control of the game. It was more direct and had Bielsa’s players on the back foot.

It meant Leeds missed out on the victory that would have seen them return to the Champions League places for the first time in 18 years. It was back in September 2002 when they were last there, in a team that contained Harry Kewell, Alan Smith and Mark Viduka.

Bielsa was also dealt a blow just before kick-off when Liam Cooper was injured in the warm-up and pulled out of the game. The Leeds captain felt his groin and after consultation with medical staff headed down the tunnel as his team-mates went through their pre-match routine.

Still, the hosts looked like they would record a third victory of the campaign with the chances they made.

Patrick Bamford, in front of watching Gareth Southgate, had the first chances of the game, stabbing wide after a nod down from Rodrigo Moreno and getting a header chalked off for offside.

David Coote was the VAR referee at the centre of controversy last weekend over Virgil van Dijk getting a serious injury and Jordan Pickford going unpunished. Here he was on the pitch as the man in the middle and he had a big call to make when Helder Costa went over in the penalty area. He initiated contact with Joao Moutinho but Coote deemed there not enough to award a penalty.

Leeds also had one chance cleared off the line while Costa dragged a shot wide, and they were made to pay for wasting their chances.

Raul Jimenez celebrates putting Wolves in front - REUTERS
Raul Jimenez celebrates putting Wolves in front - REUTERS

“Given how the game went we thought we did enough to create a lead but when an offensive team does not take their chance, the opponent reads this and starts to grow in confidence," Bielsa said.

"The game was very physical and there were many interruptions, it was difficult to find continuity in the game and we lost some offensive capacity."

Wolves sprung into life at the end of the first half when Daniel Podence got on the end of a cross, forcing an excellent save from Illan Meslier, who had little to do before that.

Clearly encouraged by their opening chance of the game, Wolves thought they had taken the lead just after the restart when they had the ball in the net. Conor Coady had started the move with a vital interception and a long diagonal ball, which was used by Podence and finished by Romain Saiss.

Nothing looked wrong until the replays showed Podence strayed offside in the build-up. It was half a yard but a VAR certainty compared to other calls. With the referees swapping roles after the Van Dijk controversy at the weekend, this time it was Michael Oliver looking at the footage in Stockley Park.

Nuno made his move midway through the second half, bringing on Adama Traore to add extra pace to his attack and seeing whether their foothold in the game would lead to the opener.

They were ahead shortly afterwards but the goal came from Phillips deflecting into the net, although it was credited to Raul. The Mexican danced around Pascal Struijk and Stuart Dallas before checking back onto his favoured right boot. His shot did not look particularly threatening but Phillips’ head diverted it around Meslier.

"Sometimes you need fortune to score, it's all about persistence,” said Raul. "It's difficult to score against this kind of team, they press very well.” He could have been sent off for kicking out at Robin Koch late on, but it was missed by the referee.

08:56 PM

Full time: Leeds United 0 Wolves 1

Leeds had the better of the first half, Wolves were definitely on top in the second. Touch of good fortune about the deflected goal from Raul Jimenez, and a solid effort at the back was enough to deny the hosts, who tried everything but came up short. Match report coming up right away.

Jamie Carragher has just asked Conor Coady if he'd come to Liverpool to fill in for Virgil VD! Ha. Good news chops from our Telegraph colleague. Coady deflects it with good humour and grace.

08:54 PM

90+ mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 1

Last chance saloon for Leeds, 95 on the clock and they have a corner. They cannot create much from it but keep the ball. Cross is easily blocked. The time is up but Leeds have the ball... they play it in. A great clearing header from Conor Coady and that is it. Wolves have done it.

08:52 PM

90+ mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 1

Jimenez well enough to join in an attack here that has Leeds desperately throwing themselves in front of Neves, Phillips and Ayling both with vital blocks. 

Six minutes will be added.

08:49 PM

90 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 1

A foul right in front of the managers - and it's a mini bench clearer! Koch with a robust challenge on Jimenez. Then Jimenez with a sneaky little kick out into the gentleman's area of, sorry to have to say it, Koch. He is going to get away with it. Could easily have been a red there. But VAR does not intervene on this occasion.

Both sides got hot and bothered there. Wolves thought Koch was out of order with the initial foul, and then Leeds did not like it when Jimenez kicked their man. Jimenez made out he was hurt, maybe more hurt than he was to misdirect the ref?

08:45 PM

86 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 1

Coady reads the game superbly there to cut out Bamford, who is a willing player and seems like a decent lad but I think needs a little bit more support around him against the better teams in this division.

08:44 PM

84 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 1

Close! Really close! Dendoncker covers a  lot of ground to defend for Wolves. Semedo is all over the place at right back for the Midlanders, the cross comes in from the left. Dendoncker with a super interception but he accidentally tees it up for Poveda, who shoots. The ball is deflected, ballooning around crazily in the area but, agony for Leeds, nobody can tuck it away.

08:39 PM

80 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 1

Hernandez is in the game right away, linking well with Harrison. Leeds have a deflected shot that is tipped over. Boly doing a good job at the back for Wolves now.

08:35 PM

77 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 1

Good Leeds build up play - and a damn lot of effort - i totally wasted as Harrison crosses to nobody, blootering the ball miles away from his fellows.

Pablo Hernandez replaces the luckless Struijk, who came into the XI at the, er, 11th hour due to an injury in the warm up, played well and then slipped over to lose the man Jimenez for the goal.

08:35 PM

75 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 1

Bamford trying to find a way through but he looks short of support, to me. Coady, one of my favourite current players, is touring the facility and picking up slack. Wolves look quite comfortable.

08:31 PM

73 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 1

I think Jimenez will get the goal. It was just about on target albeit that the Leeds goalie was a cert to save a powder-puff effort. But the intervention of the England man has cooked the home side's goose.

Poveda is on for Costa.

Leeds, you have to say, have been second best in the second half.

08:30 PM

GOAL! Leeds 0 Wolves 1 (Jimenez 70)

Raul Jimenez shows the virtues of persistence. His marker Struijk slips. Jimenez has it down the right. He cuts inside. There doesn't seem to be anything on. He shapes to shoot on his left. He spins and offers a weak shot with the right.... Kalvin Phillips has headed it past his own keeper! Oh no! 

08:28 PM

69 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

Both sides busting a gut but neither is able to fashion much of an opening in this little spell. But here comes Jimenez...

 

08:26 PM

66 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

Moutinho wrestles for the ball with Klich and is booked. He hurls himself to the floor in a toddler style protest. It was a bit of a harsh yellow. 

08:24 PM

65 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

Podence, who has been a danger, is being taken off and Traore is the man who comes on. Be a good call if it works out... 

08:23 PM

63 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

Saiss looking dangerous, Meslier has to look lively to come out and deny him.

08:20 PM

60 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

Phillips is rightly booked for a sore foul on Moutinho. Sort of stepped down on his instep. Needless and painful.

08:18 PM

58 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

Wolves looking dangerous now, it's Jimenez who has the ball in the Leeds box, twisting and turning, they cannot get it off him. He eventually runs out of road but the warning signs are there for the hosts.

08:15 PM

55 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

Nice driving run forward from Podence, lovely mover, and he gets a shot away that is tipped around the post.

Wolves waste the corner, though.

08:12 PM

GOAL CHALKED OFF! Wolves have it in the net

Oh that is a cracking shot! Coady looks like he has lost the ball but plays a nice crossfield ball. Podence receives it and crosses, smashing finish from Saiss but it is my sad duty to inform you that the wretched VAR is involved.

Podence was offside when he receives the ball and that is the end of that. Very tight, but then aren't they all.

08:10 PM

51 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

Good territorial position for Wolves. Jimenez tries to send Saiss through with a back heel but Helder Costa tidies that up nicely.

08:08 PM

48 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

Ayling hares down the right. 

Be nice to see Adama Traore pulling some strings from deep, Leeds might be unlockable I think.

08:05 PM

46 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

Eyes down for the second half, then.

07:49 PM

Half time: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

Leeds well on top but in fact it was Wolves who came closest. Leeds have delivered a battery of crosses but have not been able to convert. Wolves carry a counter attacking threat.

07:47 PM

45 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

The half comes to an end with a Leeds corner but the set piece delivery leaves a lot to be desired.

Wolves break now and we have the best chance of the half with the last kick of it! Podence gathers a cultured volleyed cross from Saiss and smashes it at goal. Well saved by Leeds's young French keeper Meslier.

07:46 PM

44 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

You do wonder, if Leeds go in level, it is Wolves who will take heart: they have been under the cosh throughout but nil-nil it remains.

Here Wolves have a freekick, they hump it into the box and then foul the Leeds keeper. Not exactly the most cunning plan,

07:44 PM

43 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

Leeds have managed 14 crosses into the Wolves box so far.

07:41 PM

40 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

Leeds corner. Bamford and Rodrigo are unmarked at the back post but manage to get in one another's way! Rod politely in the circumstances shoves Bam out of the way and smacks it at the goal. Straight at t'keeper.

07:39 PM

37 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

Another good Leeds move - Jack Harrison, who is having a good match, gets down that left flank and delivers a very impressive cross. Bamford cannot apply the finish.

Gareth Southgate-Badger is in attendance. 

07:36 PM

35 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

Wolves line up in a conga line in the box. Who is going to break? It's Jimenez! He sprints to the near post and swings a boot at it. Well over. Fun move though.

Wolves yet to have a shot on target. Leeds have just had the one. That's what is separating this from being a top class match. Huge amounts to admire about both teams, though.

07:35 PM

34 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

Wolves get a rare chance to come forward, Moutinho directing operations. Neto breaks through, using his pace, but Struijk turns it behind.

Corner for Wolves.

07:33 PM

32 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

Bamford needs a bit of help in there, he's a bit of a lone soldier. Rodrigo joins him and meets the cross for a header but not to any great effect.

07:32 PM

30 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

It's a spell of pressure from Leeds but Wolves are well back, well set and well organised. It's going to take something special. Kilman earns himself the gratitude of his manager for blocking a shot from Ayling.

07:30 PM

28 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

Wolves may feel they have weathered the storm? Neto and Jimenez starting to see a bit more of the ball, starting to ask questions of their own.

07:28 PM

24 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

The Leeds press is very fun to watch, wonderful energy. Neto is harassed into an error. From the freekick, the admirable Conor Coady tidies up and now it is Wolves who can break.

The Leeds guys are all tearing back though! Ayling especially has sprinted 70 yards. They get enough bodies back to disrupt the move.

07:25 PM

22 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

It has been an enjoyable first quarter of the match, a good bright busy performance from Leeds but Wolves scuttling hither and yon to keep them at bay. Neither goalkeeper has had to trouble himself overly.

07:17 PM

15 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

Excellent build up again from Leeds, notably Bamford, pulls it back for Helder Costa who lashes his shot wide.

Costa was a Wolves player, of course.

07:13 PM

12 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

It has been a high-octane start from Leeds United. They've played at a great tempo and have got this talented Wolves side firmly on the back foot.

Delay while Daniel Podence gets a bit of treatment for a facial (I think) injury. Luke Ayling gets the game's first yellow card: a mistimed tackle.

07:10 PM

9 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

Helder Costa knocks it past Joao Moutinho and dives. Blatant dive in my view but escapes punishment, Leeds have a corner. Headed wide by Rodrigo.

07:08 PM

7 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

Leeds goal - but offside!

Leeds have the ball in the net from a corner. It is played to Harrison at the back of the box, cute move this as he heads it back over to Bamford to apply the finish. But he looks a mile offside, and indeed he is.

07:07 PM

5 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

João Moutinho, such a clever player normally, has nodded off a bit here as Leeds take a quick freekick. It sends Ayling away down that right flank but he cannot do much with the cross.

07:05 PM

3 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

Leeds are busy down the right, Hélder Costa with a whipped ball in. That leads to a corner.

From the corner, Rodrigo knocks it down skilfully for Bamford, but his shot is a bit wild and woolly.

07:01 PM

1 mins: Leeds United 0 Wolves 0

Leeds look like they are starting with a back three, and the aforementioned are under pressure right away as Wolves make a darting, attacking raid down the right.

06:59 PM

Every time you see it

Nuno's beard still takes your breath away. WHAT a man.

06:59 PM

The players are out on the pitch

They line up.

Struijk comes into the Leeds XI as Cooper has hurt himself in the warm up

06:33 PM

Interesting topic here, tackled by Jason Burt

It is not necessary for Sergio Aguero to apologise for putting his hand on the shoulder and neck of assistant referee Sian Massey-Ellis. But it might help if he did. No-one should suggest that Aguero’s actions were deliberately demeaning towards her – only he knows that and would surely he shocked at the accusation - and  the reaction from shadow sports minister Alison McGovern that what he did was “horrendous” is a bit over the top. “Who does he think he is?” asked McGovern’s fellow MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan and that is probably why it is best that Aguero issues some kind of clarification.At the very least what he did looks uncomfortable and while there was an inevitable reaction to the reaction and trawling of the internet to find images of players putting their hands on male officials it is fair enough to ask whether Aguero would have acted in the same way towards a man. Maybe, also, a lot of the men getting annoyed about it and bizarrely saying ‘this is why women should stick to women’s football’ should actually ask women how they feel.

Sergio Aguero may not have intended to belittle Sian Massey-Ellis but he should still apologise

06:25 PM

The other game this evening

Burnley and West Brom, finished goalless. If you paid the 15 pounds, you have my sympathies. Here's my take on the pay-per-view weekend.

06:07 PM

The teams

Leeds: Meslier, Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Dallas, Phillips, Helder Costa, Rodrigo, Klich, Harrison, Bamford. Subs: Poveda-Ocampo, Alioski, Roberts, Casilla, Raphinha, Hernandez, Struijk.

Wolverhampton: Rui Patricio, Boly, Coady, Kilman, Nelson Semedo, Dendoncker, Joao Moutinho, Pedro Neto, Saiss, Jimenez, Daniel Podence. Subs: Hoever, Marcal, Neves, Silva, Ruddy, Traore, Otasowie.

Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire)

06:07 PM

Sky Droid is outputting some stats

on the telly. 3.72 goals per game so far this season. The highest ever in a completed season is 2.82 in 2018-2019.

Home advantage is not the factor it once was.

"Especially for clubs like Leeds United," says Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. "They have a hostile public." Indeed so.

06:04 PM

Leeds side

06:03 PM

Here be Wolves

06:02 PM

Record signing Rodrigo

returns to the Leeds line-up, as does Harrison.

06:02 PM

Record signing Rodrigo

returns to the Leeds line-up, as does Harrison.

05:34 PM

Monday night football

Where else would you rather, or indeed where else can you legally, be? What's the latest: you can go in a pub but not with anyone you don't know unless one of you is Bubble in Big Brother? I forget. Anyway. one place you definitely can't be is Elland Road, but at the very least you can follow the action along with us on this live blog. t's two of the most charismatic and thoughtful managers in the League, it's two exciting and progressive sides, it's Leeds vs Wolves and we will have the team news at 7pm and the kick off at 8pm.

A nice variation on pundit staple "the table doesn't lie" here from Marcelo. “While the points give you a position in the table, they don’t tell you the tendencies that there were in these games," Bielsa says.

Marcelo Bielsa remains wary of letting Leeds United’s impressive start to the season convince them their return to the Premier League is going to be easier than they thought. Leeds have held Manchester City to a draw,  narrowly lost at champions Liverpool on the opening day of the season and have beaten Fulham and Sheffield United. Those seven points are a solid platform to build on, but Bielsa has been around long enough to know a good start is only that.

Marcelo Bielsa not drawing conclusions about his Leeds side just yet despite strong start

You could argue I guess that Wolves are exactly the sort of benchmark Leeds could do with, five games in. The one point from six vs City and Liverpool is one more than they would have hoped for, and six points vs Sheff United and Fulham is very acceptable but hardly stunning. I suppose Wolves would be then template for stabilising in the PL and then kicking on.

Talking of Fulham, Wolves put them away without much fuss recently. 

Old failings hinder Fulham as Wolves jump on error to grab the points at Molineux

Perhaps more worrying than that was the fact that they have a few Portugal players who have been in contact with He Who Must Not Be Named. They've pulled up okay, by the sounds.

Portugal internationals won't have to quarantine on return to Premier League after Cristiano Ronaldo positive test

Portugal internationals returning to their Premier League clubs will not have to automatically quarantine on their return to England despite the fact  team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo has tested positive for Coronavirus.Wolverhampton Wanderers have Rui Patricio, Nelson Semedo, Joao Moutinho, Ruben Neves and Daniel Podence in the Portugal squad that has been training with Ronaldo during the international break.
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