Villanueva, 22, was one of eight changes from the side that drew 1-1 against Hull in the Premier League at the weekend.
He played a starring role as an unfamiliar team overcame the shock of falling behind to Tom Newey's superb early free-kick at Ewood Park to win 4-1.
The Chile player of the year saw the start of his Rovers career hampered by a bout of chickenpox, and was understandably itching to show his worth to the home fans with Jason Roberts rested and Roque Santa Cruz only a sub.
And he seized his chance with both hands, scoring an equaliser with an exquisite drive into the far corner and having a direct influence on his side's crucial second when his shot proved too hot for keeper Phil Barnes, allowing Matt Derbyshire to prod home from two yards.
The new boy also sent a fizzing left-footed effort just wide and smacked the bar with a brilliant free-kick in the dying stages, leaving the Ewood Park crowd buzzing at the prospect of a possible link with Santa Cruz in the near future.
The Blackburn boss did little to play down Villanueva's eye-catching display, and said: "The lad is different class. I've said before he is a special talent.
"He's still not as fit as I'd like him. But considering he had chickenpox a few weeks ago and that was his first game, I thought he was sensational.
"He's had a hard situation with his chickenpox and being away from his family, but it was nice to see him out there enjoying his football."
Ince also hailed the display of strike partner Derbyshire, who has found himself in the shadows since the arrival last summer of Santa Cruz, but showed he has not forgotten where the back of the net is by weighing in with a brace.
On another night the England Under-21 international could and probably should have scored more, with a mixture of top-class goalkeeping, wayward finishing and an offside flag denying him at least a hat-trick.
"He could have had five or six – and that's no word of a lie," added Ince.
"I'm not sure about the offside one, but he had enough chances and the lad's shown he has pace. He'll score goals if you give him the ball in the right situations."