Ipswich 2-2 Middlesbrough: Promotion hopefuls play out entertaining clash | OneFootball

Ipswich and Middlesbrough played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Portman Road this afternoon, as both sides continue to hunt for promotion.

David Strelec opened the scoring for Boro, before Kasey McAteer equalised for Ipswich shortly after. The second half saw end to end action, with Tommy Conway putting the visitors ahead for a second time, but the points were shared in the end after Jack Clarke dispatched a controversial penalty late in the day.

As It Happened

Ipswich made four changes following defeat to Portsmouth last time out, the headline being Jaden Philogene making his first home start since January. Meanwhile, Morgan Whittaker returned to the bench for Boro this afternoon.

Conway conceded an early foul after charging into Darnell Furlong inside the Ipswich half. Solomon Brynn was the first keeper called into action, comfortably catching an Ipswich free-kick. Moments later, Iván Azon registered the hosts’ first shot , but his clever flick went wide.

A lack of communication between Brynn and Adilson Malanda nearly gifted Ipswich an opener, but Malanda kept his cool and cleared the ball. Azon went close again after 17 minutes, but Dael Fry was able to get a crucial block on the shot to send it wide of the post.

The hosts continued to pile on the pressure, this time with Furlong missing from inside the area. However, it was Middlesbrough who took the lead when Strelec poked home from close range following a brilliant passing move from the Kim Hellberg’s side.

Ipswich fans didn’t have to wait long to see their side draw level, however, when McAteer tucked the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty box, a brilliant strike following a lovely backheel assist from Azon.

Philogene nearly put the Tractor Boys ahead with a long-range volley, but Brynn was equal to it with an outstanding save down to his right-hand side before catching the resultant corner. Christian Walton was also forced into his first save of the game before the break, denying Strelec a second of the game and keeping the score level at half-time.

Marcelino Núñez took on a venomous strike early in the second half, but the ball couldn’t find its way through the forest of legs inside the penalty area and bobbled away from goal. Boro’s Matt Targett picked up the first yellow card of the afternoon, and his fifth of the season, minutes later, for a silly challenge on Jack Taylor.

Middlesbrough’s first change of the day saw former Ipswich player Jeremy Sarmiento replace Alex Gilbert. Seconds later, Azon tested Brynn with a fierce strike, winning his side a fifth corner of the day, which saw Tayor’s effort drift wide from range.

Conway put Middlesbrough 2-1 up just after the hour mark, passing the ball into a virtually empty net from ten yards and sending the travelling fans wild. The hosts responded by withdrawing Philogene and Nunez in favour of Jack Clarke and Anis Mehmeti as they went in search of an equaliser.

Sarmiento tested Walton from distance, with the keeper beating away the ambitious strike. Minutes later, Walton denied Strelec once again to keep his side in the game. Further changes came for Ipswich with 19 minutes remaining, when McAteer was withdrawn in favour of Sindre Walle Egeli. Mehmeti stung Brynn’s palms moments later without troubling the keeper all too much.

Jacob Greaves almost drew the hosts level in the 80th minute, but Brynn was equal to the defender’s header. Both sides made changes following this, with Azon and Matusiwa replaced by George Hirst and Dan Neil for Ipswich, whilst Samuel Silvera replaced Strelec for the visitors as they looked to hold on to their lead.

Hirst won a penalty for Ipswich in the final minutes of normal time, after being pulled back by Malanda, who was subsequently booked. Clarke stepped up to the spot and calmly dispatched from 12 yards to level the score.

Whittaker was introduced for Boro following the goal, bringing Conway’s day to a close as the game entered eight minutes of added time. Neil was then shown a yellow card for a late challenge on Targett.

Callum Brittain was also shown a yellow card in the 94th minute after he kicked the ball away following a foul on Leif Davis. Ipswich looked to launch a rapid counterattack in the 96th minute, but Hirst was penalised for a foul. Sarmiento was added to the referee’s notebook moments later for a foul on Taylor in the middle of the park, bringing an entertaining clash to a close.