Pedro Neto earned Wolves a valuable 1-1 draw at 10-man Olympiacos as they forgot their frustration at being forced to play amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The substitute’s deflected strike cancelled out Youssef El Arabi’s opener in the Europa League last 16 tie in Athens.
Ruben Semedo’s first-half red card in the virtually empty Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium had given Wolves early encouragement but the game will only be memorable for the circumstances it was played in.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side return from Greece with a positive result in exceptionally trying circumstances, although there is no guarantee next Thursday’s second leg will go ahead.
Wolves had lobbied UEFA to postpone the game – an appeal which was rejected – after Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis announced he had tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday.
Roma’s trip to Sevilla and Inter Milan’s game with Getafe were already off but Wolves made the trip to Athens reluctantly.
There was little early action for the few in the stadium aside from Mathieu Valbuena’s early free-kick flying straight at Rui Patricio.
The game was played at pre-season pace – Wolves looking like they wanted to be anywhere in the world but Athens – yet they were given a boost after 28 minutes when Olympiacos were reduced to 10 men.
The defender was immediately dismissed by referee Clement Turpin and Ruben Neves’ subsequent free-kick deflected over.
The midfielder left Conor Coady standing and then crossed for El Arabi – who scored to knock Arsenal out in the last round – to tap in from six yards.
Nuno’s side had rarely looked a threat before then but they grabbed a fortunate leveller after 67 minutes.
Joao Moutinho touched on a free-kick and Neto’s 25-yard low drive flicked off Andreas Bouchalakis to wrong-foot Sa and earn Wolves a crucial away goal.
