Ipswich Town staged a remarkable comeback at Portman Road, extending their unbeaten streak to 11 games across all competitions. They fell behind early when Morgan Whittaker scored a stunning goal for Plymouth Argyle, but they rallied to win 3-2.
The match promised excitement from the very start, with both teams engaged in last-ditch defending to keep each other at bay. In the third minute, Ipswich Town had their first chance as Leif Davis delivered a brilliant ball to Nathan Broadhead. Although he lacked support, he managed to create an opportunity for Conor Chaplin, who chipped the ball to George Hirst. Hirst appeared offside, but the flag stayed down, and Plymouth’s goalkeeper, Michael Cooper, cleared the striker’s effort off the line.
Plymouth broke the deadlock in the seventh minute when Morgan Whittaker showcased his skill, cutting inside and curling a magnificent shot into the top left corner from outside the box, leaving Vaclav Hladky with no chance.
Ipswich struggled to find their rhythm in the early stages, showing unusual sloppiness and lethargic defending. However, the determination of players like Sam Morsy, Massimo Luongo, and Brandon Williams compensated for the lack of quality, with strong tackles preventing Plymouth from testing Hladky.
With their attacking prowess diminished, Ipswich turned to corners as an avenue of opportunity, but they often opted for short deliveries that Plymouth quickly closed down, preventing them from delivering a dangerous cross into the box.
Plymouth remained persistent and nearly capitalized on a quick pass that sent Mustapha Bundu behind Ipswich’s defense, but the referee deemed that George Edmundson got the ball, and no penalty was awarded. The hosts woke up just before half-time, and a goalmouth scramble from a corner resulted in a backheel from Luongo, which deflected off Bali Mumba and found the net, catching Cooper off guard.
Ipswich took the lead in the 55th minute when Davis provided an excellent through ball for Hirst, who surged forward and scored. Luongo’s crucial tackle prevented Argyle from equalizing moments later.
As the game progressed, Plymouth gained momentum, and Ipswich adjusted their strategy to sit deeper rather than aggressively pushing for a third goal. Hladky made an excellent save to deny Dan Scarr from a corner in the 78th minute.
In the 86th minute, Ipswich seized their opportunity when Davis delivered a low cross from the left, and Marcus Harness, a substitute, found the net after an initial block.
Plymouth, however, refused to surrender, and in stoppage time, Joe Edwards scored for them. Nevertheless, it wasn’t enough to avoid defeat in Suffolk.
Ipswich Town’s lineup: 4-2-3-1: Hladky; Williams, Woolfenden, Edmundson, Davis; Morsy, Luongo (Taylor 65′); Hutchinson (Jackson 77′), Chaplin (Clarke 83′), Broadhead (Harness 65′); Hirst (Scarlett 77′).
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