In a match brimming with drama, controversy, and late heroics, Fulham and Ipswich played out a thrilling 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage. Raul Jimenez was the standout figure, scoring two penalties—including a stoppage-time equaliser—to salvage a point for Fulham and deny Ipswich a crucial victory in their battle against relegation.
The game, which saw three penalties awarded in a chaotic second half, encapsulated the unpredictability and excitement of the Premier League. While Fulham extended their unbeaten run to nine matches, Ipswich were left ruing missed opportunities to climb out of the relegation zone.
Fulham dominated possession in the opening stages, but it was Ipswich who took the lead against the run of play in the 38th minute. Nathan Broadhead delivered a dangerous cross from the left, and Ben Johnson’s header crashed against the crossbar. The rebound fell kindly to Sammie Szmodics, who fired home via a deflection off Fulham defender Calvin Bassey.
The goal was a sucker punch for Fulham, who had controlled the tempo but lacked the cutting edge to break down a resolute Ipswich defence. Marco Silva’s side continued to probe, but they went into the break trailing despite their territorial advantage.
The second half began with Fulham pushing for an equaliser, and the breakthrough finally came in the 65th minute—albeit in controversial fashion. Harry Wilson went down under a challenge from Ipswich captain Sam Morsy, but referee Darren Bond initially waved away Fulham’s appeals.
However, after being advised to review the incident by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), Bond overturned his decision and pointed to the spot. Raul Jimenez stepped up and coolly slotted the penalty into the bottom corner, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
The goal sparked wild celebrations among the home fans, but the drama was far from over.
Just 21 seconds after the restart, Ipswich were awarded a penalty of their own. Fulham defender Timothy Castagne, attempting to clear the ball, caught Ipswich striker Liam Delap with a high boot. Bond had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and Delap made no mistake, hammering the ball into the net for his eighth league goal of the season.
The goal silenced the Craven Cottage crowd and put Ipswich back in the driving seat. The visitors nearly doubled their lead moments later when Jack Clarke’s low drive struck the post, but Fulham survived the scare and began to push forward once again.
As the clock ticked into stoppage time, Fulham were awarded a second penalty. Jimenez was brought down in the box by Ipswich defender Leif Davis, and Bond once again pointed to the spot. The Mexican striker, who had already scored one penalty, showed remarkable composure to convert his second, firing the ball high into the net to level the scores.
The goal sparked jubilant scenes among the Fulham players and fans, but it was a cruel blow for Ipswich, who had come so close to securing a crucial victory.
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Fulham manager Marco Silva was less than impressed with referee Darren Bond’s performance, particularly his decision to show only a yellow card to Leif Davis for a first-half foul on Harry Wilson. Silva said:
“It’s difficult to understand why it was not a red card. It was a clear penalty—one of the biggest this season. The referee’s performance was not at the level the Premier League demands. We showed great character to come back, but we should not have been in that position in the first place.”
Raul Jimenez was undoubtedly the standout performer for Fulham, showcasing his composure and clinical finishing from the penalty spot. The Mexican striker has now scored nine goals this season, underlining his importance to Silva’s side.
For Ipswich, Sammie Szmodics and Liam Delap were the key figures. Szmodics’ opener set the tone for the visitors, while Delap’s penalty highlighted his growing reputation as one of the most promising young strikers in English football.
The draw leaves Fulham in ninth place in the Premier League table, with their unbeaten run now stretching to nine games. While they remain outside the European places, Silva will be encouraged by his team’s resilience and fighting spirit.
For Ipswich, the result means they stay 18th, level on points with Wolves, who sit just above them in 17th. Kieran McKenna’s side will take heart from their performance against a strong Fulham team, but they will need to start turning draws into wins if they are to avoid relegation.