Lopez Leads Wolves to Convincing Away Victory

Lopez’s Wolves revival gathered real momentum as he struck twice in a ruthless away win, underlining just how far he has come since last season’s struggles and loan return to his former club.

The forward, who opened his account in old gold in the League Cup earlier this month, carried that confidence straight into the league. His first major act was a statement. Picking up the ball wide, he burned past Preston defender Liam Lindsay, leaving him trailing, then drove all the way into the box before thundering a finish beyond Daniel Iversen. A solo goal with a touch of anger about it.

Wolves suddenly looked alive. Raul Jimenez, back for a second spell and desperate to write a new chapter of his own, almost made it 2-0 within minutes. The Mexican darted to the near post and flicked goalwards from close range, only to see the ball flash agonisingly the wrong side of the upright.

That miss gave the hosts a lifeline and they finally woke up. A spell of pressure ended with Callum Lang testing the visitors’ resolve, his effort beating the goalkeeper but not Marshall Munetsi, who had read the danger and dropped back to head off the line. It was a crucial intervention that kept Wolves in control on the scoreboard, if not entirely in the flow of the game.

Just before the break, Rodrigo Gomes nearly punished Preston again. He stepped onto a loose ball at the edge of the box and drilled a low strike towards the far corner. Iversen flung himself across and, at full stretch, managed to claw it away. Wolves went in at half-time ahead, but not out of sight.

The match felt finely balanced as both managers turned to their benches after the interval. Fresh legs, fresh ideas, and a sense that the next goal would decide everything.

It belonged to the visitors.

On 71 minutes, substitute Armstrong changed the mood completely. Linking up neatly with Jimenez, he played a sharp one-two, burst into space inside the area and finished with composure to double Wolves’ lead. A simple move, executed at speed, that cut right through Preston’s resistance.

The pressure finally told again late on. With eight minutes left, Wolves stitched together another slick passing sequence and the ball worked its way to Lopez on the edge of the box. He didn’t hesitate. One touch to set, one to strike, and his low drive found the corner for his second of the night. From a player who had once been sent back out on loan, this was the performance of someone intent on staying.

Preston did at least find a response. Thompson produced a tidy finish to pull it back to 3-1, giving the home crowd something to cling to as the clock ran down. But the damage was done.

Lopez had already stamped his name all over the contest.