Julio Enciso's stunning long-range goal inspired Ipswich Town to produce a spirited comeback and hold Everton to a 2-2 draw in the penultimate Premier League match at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Everton’s fans put on a show prior to kick-off, and were rewarded by seeing David Moyes’ team go 2-0 up inside 36 minutes – Beto guiding a header into the bottom corner and Dwight McNeil’s sizzling strike doubling their lead.

But McNeil’s effort was topped by a brilliant long-range goal from Enciso, which brought the Tractor Boys – whose relegation was confirmed last weekend – back into the match.

And having been relatively untroubled for much of the second half, Everton found themselves pegged back when substitute George Hirst nodded home at the back post in the 79th minute.

The draw keeps Ipswich in 18th, a point clear of Leicester City after the Foxes’ win over Southampton, while Everton sit in 14th place with just three matches remaining.

How the match unfolded

Beto was lively early on, heading at Alex Palmer before twice missing the target from promising positions, but his persistence paid off in the 26th minute when he glanced in from Carlos Alcaraz’s left-wing cross.

McNeil doubled Everton’s advantage in style nine minutes later, unleashing a swerving strike that moved away from Palmer and flew into the bottom-left corner.

But if McNeil’s goal was brilliant, Enciso’s 41st-minute follow-up was out of this world.

The Paraguayan unleashed a stunning strike from around 30 yards out, the ball swerving up and over Jordan Pickford and crashing in off the crossbar to give Ipswich some hope.

The second half saw little in the way of goalmouth action compared to the first, though Enciso carried on his lively performance, driving up the wing and testing Pickford with a shot from the edge of the area just before the hour mark.

Yet with Everton failing to translate possession into chances, Ipswich made Moyes’ men pay when Omari Hutchinson’s cross looped up off Idrissa Gueye, with Hirst overpowering Jake O’Brien in order to head home.

Toffees falter as Goodison goodbye approaches

Moyes’ return to Everton at the start of the year provided the impetus for the Toffees to get their season back on track and stave off relegation. But their momentum has waned, and it is now just one win in 10 league matches.

This included back-to-back defeats to Manchester City and Chelsea in their last two outings, though back at Goodison Park, the Toffees would have backed themselves to turn things around.

Yet instead there will be a sense of frustration after Everton cheaply squandered what should have been a comfortable advantage, and enough to see them home against a team that will be competing in the second tier next season.

Beto was full of running early on, carving out several half-chances before heading in Alcaraz’s delightful curling cross to open the scoring. McNeil then raised the volume with his stunning low strike from distance.

But Enciso’s thunderbolt set Everton back, and although they had plenty of the ball, they lacked the ingenuity or quality to break a resolute Ipswich defence down for a third time.

With just one match at Goodison now remaining – an early kick-off against relegated Southampton on 18 May – a no-doubt frustrated Moyes will be determined for his team to bow out of the famous old stadium on a high note.

Enciso ignites Ipswich fightback

Kieran McKenna’s side arrived at Goodison Park with relegation already confirmed, their fate sealed by a 3-0 defeat to Newcastle United at St James’ Park last time out.

With little more than pride to play for, the Tractor Boys were facing down the barrel of another morale-sapping loss as half-time approached.

Yet instead of folding as they did in heavy defeats to Newcastle and Arsenal in recent weeks, Ipswich rallied, with Enciso’s wondergoal providing just the right kind of spark.

Enciso has a reputation for scoring long-range stunners and his performance today was a timely reminder of the Brighton & Hove Albion loanee’s potential, as he was a constant menace.

While Liam Delap, who Moyes said is of interest to Everton, struggled to get into the match, his replacement Hirst showcased his quality with his finish for Ipswich’s equaliser, which was being back in the Premier League next season.

McKenna will hope to end the season on a positive note with more such results like this and with momentum on their side, Ipswich now return home to face Brentford before a trip to Leicester awaits next.

While Liam Delap, who Moyes said is of interest to Everton, struggled to get into the match, his replacement Hirst showcased his quality with his finish for Ipswich’s equaliser, which was being back in the Premier League next season.

McKenna will hope to end the season on a positive note with more results like this and with momentum on their side, Ipswich now return home to face Brentford before a trip to Leicester.

Club reports

Everton report | Ipswich report

Match officials

Referee: Lewis Smith. Assistants: Nick Hopton, Marc Perry. Fourth official: Anthony Taylor. VAR: Paul Tierney. Assistant VAR: Eddie Smart.