Photo: Sam Szmodics scores an overhead kick for Ipswich against Tottenham
Image source,Reuters.
Ipswich held on for a 2-1 win at Tottenham to celebrate their first win of the season – and their first in the Premier League in 22 years.
The Tractor Boys have struggled to hold on to leads following their long-awaited return to England’s top flight this summer.
But they finally did enough to clinch all three points – and move out of the bottom three at the expense of Crystal Palace – Sam Szmodics steering an overhead kick beyond Guglielmo Vicario to give them the lead.
Kieran McKenna’s side, wearing their pink third kit designed in collaboration with supporter and global music star Ed Sheeran – who was watching in the stands, doubled their advantage when Liam Delap bundled in just over 10 minutes later.
There was some boos from the home fans at half-time and within four minutes of the restart Spurs had the ball in the net, only for Dominic Solanke’s effort to be ruled out for handball.
That momentum faded until Rodrigo Bentancur gave them hope with 21 minutes left, heading home from a Pedro Porro corner.
But Solanke’s late effort, blocked by goalkeeper Arijanet Muric, was the closest they went to equalising as Ipswich secured their first top-flight victory since winning 1-0 at home to Middlesbrough in April 2002 – and their first away since a 2-1 victory at Everton in February 2002.
Before Sunday’s game, Ipswich had led for a league-low 86 minutes this season, despite opening the scoring in five of their 10 league games.
Yet they lost two of those matches and drew three, so have dropped 12 points from winning positions – second only to Brentford (14).
They ensured they did not add to that tally after an excellent all-round performance in north London.
A lively start saw Szmodics have a close-range effort blocked by home keeper Vicario, while defender Cameron Burgess headed a corner against the Spurs crossbar from a tight angle.
Ipswich’s early efforts were rewarded when Jens Cajuste’s right-wing cross was helped on by Delap and, as the ball dropped about 10 yards out, Brennan Johnson stood off, allowing Republic of Ireland forward Szmodics to finish in style.
With Spurs failing to mount a response, Omari Hutchinson won the ball in midfield to spark an Ipswich attack, and although Vicario got a hand to Szmodics’ low centre, the ball deflected goalwards off defender Radu Dragusin and Delap smashed it into the net from right on the goalline.
Spurs threatened a fightback early in the second half, but did not pull one back until the 69th minute and in truth, Ipswich looked comfortable for much of the closing stages.
Victory lifted the Tractor Boys up to 17th, a point above the relegation zone, and ended a wait of 8,238 days for a Premier League win.
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Spurs had the opportunity to go above local rivals Arsenal – before they faced Chelsea – after coming from behind to win in each of their previous three home games, but this time their luck ran out as they left themselves too much to do.
Johnson went close to maintaining his recent goalscoring form early on while Son Heung-min and Solanke tested visiting keeper Muric.
Yet for the 13th time in their 15 home league games in 2024, they conceded the first goal.
Johnson could have done better defensively, while Bentancur was caught in possession on halfway for Ipswich’s second goal.
Of the 12 previous games in which they have fallen behind at home this year, Spurs had come back to win eight of them.
And it looked like they would threaten to do so again when Son’s shot was tipped over by Muric – and although Solanke turned the ball in from the resulting corner, the goal was ruled out as the England striker played it on to his own hand.
Spurs then failed to build a sustained spell of pressure, with Solanke and Son firing over from outside the box, while substitute Timo Werner blazed over from Son’s lay-off.
And although Solanke latched on to a loose ball late on, Muric saved smartly to secure victory.
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