Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Ipswich Town - Sammie Szmodics and Liam Delap give Tractor Boys first league win of the season - Eurosport
Ipswich Town achieved their first Premier League victory since 2002, triumphing 2-1 against Tottenham Hotspur in North London on Sunday.
Sammie Szmodics and Liam Delap scored for the away team, helping them climb out of the relegation zone with this impressive win.
Both teams created opportunities right from the start. Brennan Johnson failed to score from a position close to the goal, and shortly afterward, Dominic Solanke had his shot saved. In between these moments, Cameron Burgess nearly found the net with a header that hit the crossbar.
Just past the 30-minute mark, Szmodics scored to give Ipswich the lead—their sixth time doing so this season—with a stunning overhead kick following Spurs' inability to clear Jens-Lys Cajuste's cross.
Looking for their first victory since moving back up to the top division, Ipswich extended their lead when Delap quick-footedly poked the ball in after a miscommunication between Guglielmo Vicario and Radu Dragusin.
Spurs believed they had a chance to get back in the game when Solanke scored from close range just a few minutes after halftime. However, the goal was disallowed by VAR due to a handball.
The home team scored when Rodrigo Bentancur powered a header into the net from a corner taken by Pedro Porro, reducing the gap to one goal. This left Ange Postecoglou’s squad with just over 20 minutes to try to level the score.
However, they were unable to locate it as the visiting team managed to secure three points, while Spurs suffered their fifth loss of the season.
Ipswich Secures First PL Win Since 2002
After 11 tries, Ipswich has finally achieved their first win of the season in the top division. This victory moves them out of the relegation zone and lifts them to 17th place, surpassing both Wolves and Crystal Palace.
While it wasn't until November that they managed to rack up their full points, they have also had five draws and five losses, which is the same number of defeats as Spurs. So, things haven't been too bleak for the newcomers, who can now start fighting for their place in the league.
For Spurs, this marked the second occasion where they allowed an opponent to secure their first victory of the season, having previously experienced this when Palace triumphed over them at Selhurst Park in late August. Under the management of Ange Postecoglou, the team currently sits in 10th place in the standings, trailing the top team, Liverpool, by 12 points and being three points behind fourth-placed Brighton.
Match MVP: Sammie Szmodics
The Irish player posed a significant challenge for Spurs during the match on Sunday, and he delivered the highlight of the game with an impressive acrobatic goal in the first half.
His third goal of the Premier League season proved crucial, as it energized Ipswich to secure a second goal. Meanwhile, Spurs struggled to find their way back into the match.
Ipswich goalkeeper Arijanet Muric should be applauded for his outstanding performance. He made five crucial saves, stopping shots from players like Son Heung-min and Solanke.
Tottenham Player Ratings: - Vicario: 6 - Porro: 7 - Romero: 6 - Dragusin: 5 - Udogie: 7 - Sarr: 7 - Bentancur: 7 - Kulusevski: 5 - Johnson: 6 - Solanke: 6 - Son: 7 In summary, the players received ratings between 5 and 7, showcasing a range of performances with a few standouts.
Substitutes: Bissouma - Not Applicable, Maddison - Not Applicable, Werner - 6
Ipswich: Muric scored an 8, Tuanzebe received a 7, Johnson got a 6, O'Shea also earned a 7, Burgess was rated at 7, Davis received a score of 7, Cajuste was given a 7, Morsy earned a 7, Hutchinson also scored a 7, Szmodics had an 8, and Delap also received an 8.
Substitutes: Clarke - 6, Luongo - Not Applicable, Hirst - 6
4’ - HOW DID THAT NOT GO IN?! Heung-Min Son sends a tempting cross from the left side, and Brennan Johnson tries to direct it past Arijanet Muric with a gentle touch, but it rolls just wide of the post. It seemed like it was headed straight for the bottom left corner! An exciting beginning in North London.
9’ - SO CLOSE! The visiting team maneuvers into the penalty area and delivers a cross from the left side, which Dragusin manages to intercept just in time. Udogie then clears the subsequent cross, conceding a corner kick. Ipswich takes a strong, deep cross aimed at the far post, and Cameron Burgess heads it back toward the goal, but it hits the crossbar! That's the nearest we've been to a goal so far.
20’ - SOLANKE'S ATTEMPT DENIED! That's the first time Spurs' record signing has made his mark. The forward collects the ball at the edge of the penalty area, moves to the right, and unleashes a powerful shot towards the goal. However, Muric manages to tip it away for a corner, which ultimately doesn't lead to any scoring opportunity.
31’ - GOAL!!! - TOTTENHAM 0-1 IPSWICH (SZMODICS): Ipswich takes the lead with an outstanding goal from Szmodics! Cajuste delivers a sharp cross from the right side, and after Romero heads it up into the air, Szmodics skillfully finishes with an impressive overhead kick that finds the bottom right corner of the net!
43’ - GOAL!!! - TOTTENHAM 0-2 IPSWICH (DELAP): Can you believe it? Ipswich quickly extends their lead! Son’s cross gets intercepted, but Ipswich counterattack swiftly. Szmodics sends a cross back into the box, and after some confusion between Vicario and Dragusin, Liam Delap seizes the opportunity to nudge the ball over the line! Tottenham has quite the uphill battle ahead now…
49' - GOAL!!! - TOTTENHAM 1-2 IPSWICH (SOLANKE): The action is intense in the penalty area after the corner kick... but Solanke has found the net with a close-range effort. VAR is checking for a potential handball.
50' - NO GOAL! It's clear that the ball touched Solanke's hand after his shot, so the goal has been disallowed. Take a deep breath, Ipswich supporters...
69’ - GOAL!!! - TOTTENHAM 1-2 IPSWICH (BENTANCUR): Spurs have scored! Bentancur finds the net with a header from Porro's cross, reducing the gap. This match is gearing up for an exciting conclusion.
90’+6 - BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR SOLANKE! He seizes a stray ball in the penalty area and finds himself face-to-face with the goalkeeper, although he's at a narrow angle. Unfortunately, he shoots directly at Muric! That could be a crucial save.
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