September 19, 2024
Ipswich Town 3-4 Leeds United – Match Report

Town’s 100 per cent start to the season came to an end as they were beaten 4-3 by Leeds United in a pulsating encounter at Portman Road, which sees the Blues drop to sixth in the early-season Championship table. A Joe Rodon own goal gave Town the lead on seven but the Blues found themselves 3-1 behind following quick-fire goals from Georginio Rutter, Wilfried Gnonto and Joel Piroe on 10, 14 and 19, before Nathan Broadhead pulled one back in first-half injury time to give the home side a foothold. However, despite the Blues having periods on top, the Whites sealed their first win of the season via Luis Sinisterra’s goal 15 minutes from time, before Conor Chaplin pulled one back for Town deep in injury time.

Ipswich Town 3-4 Leeds United: Whites register first league win of season -  BBC Sport

Harry Clarke and Kayden Jackson came into the Blues team as Janoi Donacien and George Hirst missed out.

Clarke started at right-back for Donacien, who suffered a groin strain at QPR last week, while Jackson was the main striker with Hirst missing out with an adductor issue.

Otherwise, the Blues were unchanged from the team which won 1-0 at Loftus Road last week with new loan addition Brandon Williams among the subs.

For Leeds, new signing Piroe started, while Gnonto and Sinisterra were back in the XI having returned to the fold this week having agitated for a move and due to a contractual legal issue respectively.

Leeds began the game seeing more of the ball and looking for openings but with the Town backline making a couple of vital interceptions.

On six, the Blues threatened for the first time, Jackson and Broadhead exchanging passes before the striker’s cross back to the Welshman was under-hit and was intercepted.Leeds United's 3 first half goals Vs Ipswich Town!!! - YouTube

But a minute later, Town did take the lead. Jackson was sent away down the left by Leif Davis and his low cross was turned in at the near post by Rodon.

The Blues weren’t far from a second in the ninth minute, Davis breaking away down the left against his old club and sending over a low cross which reached Wes Burns but Sam Byram turned it behind as the Wales international looked to shoot.

It had been a frantic start and in the 10th minute Leeds levelled, Rutter turning and taking the ball into the area on the right and holding off challenges before hitting a low shot into the net off the inside of the far post. Burgess and Morsy maintained a lengthy dialogue regarding how the goal came about while the Whites celebrated.Leeds United team news as Farke makes Piroe, Gnonto and Sinisterra  decisions to face Ipswich - Leeds Live

Only four minutes later, the visitors went in front. Byram crossed from the left after a lengthy spell of Leeds possession and Gnonto nipped in between Vaclav Hladky and Burgess at the far post to stick a leg out to turn it home.

And in the 19th minute, Leeds increased their lead, Luis Sinisterra cutting in from the left past Clarke before hitting a shot which Hladky couldn’t hold and debutant Piroe tapped home from six yards.

It had been a remarkable opening period to the game and the action and chances continued.

In the 21st minute, Burns cut across from the right and Jackson flicked across the face but wide. Broadhead picked up the loose ball and laid it back to Massimo Luongo on the penalty spot and the Australian hit a low shot which was blocked on the line by Byram.

As the Blues prepared to take the corner, Leeds were forced into a change, Byram making way for Cody Drameh.

Town reacted well to conceding three times and went looking to pull one back, Jackson forcing Leeds keeper Illan Meslier to push his shot from the edge of the box wide.Ipswich Town 3-4 Leeds United: Whites register first league win of season -  BBC Sport

On 32, Clarke sent Burns away on the right and the Welshman sent over a low cross which was bundled behind ahead of Jackson by sub Drameh.

Town continued to see a lot of the ball with the Leeds defence looking far from impenetrable, but with the Whites looking likely to score a fourth whenever they were in the final third, Sinisterra Gnonto, Rutter and Piroe having caused the Blues’ backline more problems than any attacking unit during Kieran McKenna’s time at the club.

In the 41st minute, Burns, who had been found in space on a number of occasions on the right, was sent away but Drameh slid in as the former Fleetwood man shaped to shoot.

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