Report

Ayew's last-gasp leveller denies Ipswich in DRAMATIC finish

2 Nov 2024
2024-11-02T165807Z_534159557_UP1EKB21B4T9U_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-IPS-LEI-REPORT

Davies' volley cancelled out by late Leicester equaliser after Ipswich were reduced to 10-men

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Jordan Ayew’s stoppage-time equaliser snatched a point for Leicester City, who held 10-man Ipswich Town to a 1-1 draw at Portman Road.

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The hosts looked on course to record their first win of the season following a superb Leif Davis volley after 55 minutes.

However, they were forced to finish the final 13 minutes a man light after Kalvin Phillips’ dismissal for a second bookable offence.

Leicester capitalised on the advantage, with substitute Ayew slotting home in the 94th minute to secure a share of the points.

Premier League - Ipswich Town v Leicester City

Ipswich missed the chance to move out of the relegation zone and remain in 18th place on five points, five fewer than Leicester in 15th.

How the match unfolded

Leicester carried the greater threat early on with Abdul Fatawu and Facundo Buonanotte both calling Arijanet Muric into action, while Conor Chaplin and Ben Johnson went close from distance at the other end as Ipswich grew into the contest.

The hosts broke through 10 minutes after the restart with Sam Morsy’s crossfield ball brilliantly converted by Davis from a tight angle.

Premier League - Ipswich Town v Leicester City

With manager Steve Cooper watching from the stands while he served a one-game touchline ban, Leicester sought a response and Harry Winks’ curling long-range effort drew a smart save from Muric.

Ipswich were forced to increase their concentration levels when Phillips was shown his second yellow card for a late challenge on Ricardo Pereira.

The hosts survived two huge scares as the clock ticked down. Buonanotte fired over from a Victor Kristiansen cross, while Cameron Burgess blocked substitute Ayew’s goalbound strike on the line.

However, they could not hold on as Ayew brilliantly converted a neat one-two with Jamie Vardy to salvage a point for the visitors.

Ipswich’s wait goes on

It looked like Ipswich could finally end their 22-and-a-half year wait for that elusive Premier League victory.

Davis seemed set to be the hero at Portman Road, as the full-back marked his 100th appearance for the club with a brilliantly controlled volley to break the deadlock.

However, Kieran McKenna would not have been taking anything for granted. His side had already dropped 10 points from winning positions this season, including losing a two-goal at Brentford last time out.

They faced an uphill battle when Phillips was given his marching orders for a second late challenge of the match.

Buoyed by the home crowd, Ipswich desperately held on with Burgess doing magnificently to thwart Ayew on the line.

But it was not to be, with Ayew snatching a point for the visitors. The wait for victory goes on and with Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United awaiting them in their next two games, confidence will not exactly be brimming for the Tractor Boys.

Another Leicester late show

Leicester were eager to make it third time lucky having suffered back-to-back losses in all competitions.

But a third straight defeat loomed for Cooper, who was watching from the stand with assistant Alan Tate keeping his seat warm in the dugout. While they trailed, Leicester would not have been panicking.

After all, the Foxes had recovered from 2-0 down to snatch all three points at Southampton in their last Premier League game on the road, with Ayew scoring a 98th-minute winner.

A fortnight on, and he was at it again. Ayew had already sounded a warning when, within moments of his introduction, he neatly lifted over Muric, only to be denied by Burgess.

However, there was no stopping him a few minutes later. Gliding into the box, he played a delightful one-two with Vardy before slotting home to silence Portman Road.

With their next two matches against Man Utd and Chelsea, it was important for the Foxes to leave East Anglia with something.

Premier League

Position Pos Club Played Pl GD Points Pts
15 Everton EVE 13 -11 11
16 Leicester LEI 13 -11 10
17 Crystal Palace CRY 13 -7 9
18 Wolves WOL 13 -10 9
19 Ipswich IPS 13 -11 9
20 Southampton SOU 13 -15 5
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What the managers said

Kieran McKenna: "It's a tough one to take. I thought we were much the better team and it's on the referee's decision again. It's a clear penalty and it goes 2-0. Kalvin pulls his foot out of the way and I don't think he has to make the decision."

Steve Cooper: "When we were good, we were superior. There were moments when we weren't good. They scored an excellent goal. I think the game was always going to be determined by the level we played at. We allowed Ipswich spells to get some momentum in the game. We kept going and I felt like that goal was coming. I felt like we deserved to win but it's a miles better result for us than it is for them."

Club reports

Ipswich report | Leicester report

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Key facts

Ipswich Town have failed to beat Leicester City at home for the first time in a Premier League fixture, having won each of their first three such matches against the Foxes.

Ipswich Town are now winless across their first 10 matches in the 2024/25 Premier League (D5 L5), the club’s longest ever such run at the start of a campaign in the English top-flight.

Leicester City have avoided defeat in back-to-back Premier League away matches for the first time since October-November 2022, when they won three in a row (v Wolves, Everton and West Ham).

Ipswich Town scored the opening goal of a fifth Premier League game this season, however, they haven’t gone on to win any of those (D3 L2) – overall, they’ve dropped 12 points from winning positions, the most of any Premier League team in 2024/25.

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