Soccer

Sammie Szmodics on the scoresheet for Ipswich as Fulham fight back with late penalty

Stoppage time penalty from Raúl Jiménez levelled the game at Craven Cottage

Republic of Ireland international Sammie Szmodics scores for Ipswich against Fulham. Photograph: Ben Stansall/Getty Images
Republic of Ireland international Sammie Szmodics scores for Ipswich against Fulham. Photograph: Ben Stansall/Getty Images
Nick Ames
Sun Jan 05 2025 - 17:05
Premier League: Fulham 2 Ipswich 2

A tale of three penalties and an outcome that, ultimately, was fair. Fulham were staring down the barrel of a rare defeat when Raúl Jiménez converted his second spot-kick of the afternoon at the start of added time and could feel they never quite did enough to defeat a well-drilled Ipswich. Kieran McKenna’s team had led twice, through Republic of Ireland international Sammie Szmodics and a penalty of their own from Liam Delap; whether this was one that got away remains to be seen but they do not carry themselves as if destined for the drop.

Any student of two compact, laudably coached teams might have expected a chess match at the outset, albeit one a Fulham side beaten just once in 11 games were favoured to shade. Marco Silva has made them purr, even allowing for a high draw count, and given them the kind of presence Ipswich would love to attain in time.

The away side’s prospects were hindered in the build-up by a groin injury to Omari Hutchinson, who had scored brilliantly in a win over Chelsea that breathed life into their fight against relegation. Ipswich top the division’s charts for fitness-related woes and the sense was that, without their most trusted line breaker, this would be a day for guts and grit in the Thames drizzle.

Those predictions were borne out in a start high on endeavour but lacking in tempo, Ipswich sitting in and trusting Delap’s rumbustious running to take them up the pitch. Within seconds of kick-off he had left a mark on Sasa Lukic; eight minutes later his burst towards the penalty area brought a free-kick and, from the second ball in, a Leif Davis cross that narrowly evaded a lunging Szmodics.

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Most of the play, though, was dictated by a Fulham side keen to ask questions from the flanks. It took 20 minutes for them to craft an opening but, when it came, Christian Walton reacted splendidly to parry Jiménez’s header low to his right. Jiménez, who had met a delivery from the recalled Tom Cairney, should probably have scored. Then Alex Iwobi, having nutmegged Ben Johnson inside the box, glimpsed goal but was denied by a desperate Jens Cajuste block.

By the half-hour Fulham were dominant, their opponents struggling for meaningful possession save for those moments when Delap made headway. They screamed for a red card when Harry Wilson, streaking through the middle, was crudely checked by Davis. A booking was deemed to suffice, much to Silva’s chagrin, with Davis perhaps saved by the 40-yard distance from goal and the potential of Dara O’Shea to cover.

To compound Fulham’s frustration, Ipswich proceeded to strike with their first opening of note. Antonee Robinson had just squandered a good position after more sublime work by Iwobi when, following a spell of possession on the visitors’ left, Nathan Broadhead dipped a cross towards the back post. Johnson and Robinson rose to contest it, the ball skimming off the latter’s head on to the bar. There was still scope for Calvin Bassey to clear but he fluffed his attempt horribly, allowing Szmodics the chance to ram home via the defender’s attempt at redemption.

Raúl Jiménez celebrates with team-mates after scoring Fulham's second goal against Ipswich at Craven Cottage. Photograph: Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty Images
Raúl Jiménez celebrates with team-mates after scoring Fulham's second goal against Ipswich at Craven Cottage. Photograph: Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty Images

For all Fulham’s pressure, Jiménez’s chance was the sum of their endeavours. Silva, still complaining to the officials about Davis’ reprieve upon returning for the second half, introduced Emile Smith Rowe’s craft at the interval. Centre back Issa Diop was sacrificed and the pattern for what would follow appeared set.

Ipswich showed first after the restart, Bassey putting Szmodics off when the scorer glimpsed further joy. The rain was pouring in sheets now, the expected Fulham siege failing to materialise by the hour mark beyond Jacob Greaves’ sharp defending of a Robinson cross and a badly sliced Iwobi effort.

When an opportunity did materialise, Smith Rowe could only skid a header wide when hurtling on to Iwobi’s chipped cross. Silva swiftly called upon Andreas Pereira and Rodrigo Muniz, but had to thank Bernd Leno almost immediately when he brilliantly tipped Broadhead’s half-volley around his left post.

Fulham could capitalise on the let off. Darren Bond initially waved play on when Wilson tumbled under the attention of Sam Morsy but it did not appear to be a dive and the Ipswich captain looked guilty. VAR bore that out, highlighting Morsy’s tap on a full-flight Wilson’s knee. Jiménez did the rest and Fulham had the platform they craved.

A mere 21 seconds later, it crumbled. Delap twisted inside Timothy Castagne and went down dramatically, Bond pointing to the spot and replays showing there had been contact. Delap, brimming with confidence, swept in the penalty and a bizarre passage of play had left Fulham with it all to do again.

Jiménez headed a foot wide and Silva threw on the kitchen sink in Adama Traoré form. It was an Ipswich substitute, Jack Clarke, who could have sealed things by drilling against the post. But seconds later Davis tripped Jiménez and the repeat performance could be completed. – Guardian