- Ipswich’s Liam Delap opened the scoring with a long-range strike 15 minutes in
- Adama Traore later levelled the scoring to earn the travelling Cottagers a point
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It was a goal that won’t be forgotten in a hurry around these parts, both for the quality of the strike and its significance.
Galloping forward from the halfway line towards the Fulham box, Liam Delap exuded the confidence of a veteran talisman. An assuredness with the ball at his feet which belied the fact this was only his fifth top-flight game.
The 21 year old had to wait patiently for a gap to present itself amongst the sea of white shirts forming a barrier on the edge the Fulham box in front of him.
When it did so, Delap took full advantage. With one decisive swish of his right foot, the ball flew into the top left corner past a helpless Bernd Leno.
With such force did Delap strike the ball that it felt as though it could have burst through net. So loud were the celebrations that followed Ipswich’s first Premier League goal at home since Darren Bent scored against Middlesbrough 22 years ago that it felt as though it could have burst your ear drums.
Ipswich secured their first point since returning to the Premier League against Fulham
Liam Delap (far right) exuded the confidence of a veteran talisman as he opened the scoring
The Blues’ bubble was to be burst by Adama Traore, who equalised for Fulham 32 minutes in
Delap punched the corner flag with delight. Even more powerful was the wave of ecstasy that poured from the stands and shook Portman Road’s old steel framework and corrugated iron roofs.
‘A great moment,’ reflected boss Kieran McKenna. ‘What a goal it was’.
But it proved not to be the goal which sealed Ipswich’s first win since returning to the top flight.
Adama Traore struck just after the half-hour mark to spoil a party which had started the moment both sides emerged from the tunnel to a fanfare of fireworks and flames.
The crowd had barely begun to settle again when Jacob Greaves was denied by Leno after meeting Leif Davis’ deep corner.
They were soon off their feet again. Davis drove from deep inside his own towards the halfway line, before playing forward to Delap.
The striker took Davis’ lead, surging towards the Fulham goal before firing into the top left corner.
The same man should’ve raised the roof again two minutes later, but he could only head wide from Davis’ corner.
Fulham, though, hit back. Adama Traore was in the right place at the right time in the box to thump home Antonee Robinson’s cross past Arijanet Muric in the Ipswich goal and celebrated by lifting Rodrigo Muniz – not a small man by any means – over his broad shoulders.
Muniz, both feet safely back on the ground, should have put the visitors ahead moments later, but his header was straight at Muric.
‘The reaction was good,’ said Fulham manager Marco Silva. ‘We scored a very good goal from a good open play moment by ourselves. There were moments we had to be clinical and ruthless to punish them.’
That was to be one of the few clear-cut chances for the visitors as Kalvin Phillips, making his Premier League debut for the hosts, began to pull the strings from midfield.
Rodrigo Muniz should have put the visitors ahead but his header was straight at the keeper
Ipswich had more chances but had to make do with their one excellent goal from Delap
Emile Smith Rowe puts his head in his shirt after missing a big chance to put Fulham ahead
Fulham have four points from their opening three games with a win, a draw and a defeat
Kieran McKenna’s side wait for those first precious three points of the season continues
There was a scare, however, when a rare Fulham attack forced Jacob Greaves into a brave block to deny Smith Rowe.
At the other end, Leno denied Chiedozie Ogbene and substitute Jack Clarke curled narrowly wide.
‘The start of the game today, we built on what we done against Liverpool in the first half and our pressure was really good and really aggressive,’ said McKenna. ‘The players are coming away from the first three games with more belief and feeling we are going in the right direction.’
