Ipswich Town scored twice in the final minutes to beat Fulham 2-1 at Portman Road on Saturday. Ryan Sessegnon had put Fulham ahead in the 55th minute, but Abdoul Ouattara equalized with a 30-yard strike in the 88th minute and captain Dara O’Shea headed in Jack Clarke’s free-kick in the first minute of stoppage time. The result leaves Fulham winless in six league games under Álvaro Arbeloa and still in the relegation zone.
Fulham were about two minutes from their first league win under Álvaro Arbeloa. Ipswich had other plans.
A Tight, Scrappy First Half
Fulham started on the back foot, surviving two early corners before Julio Enciso curled a shot wide from outside the area for Ipswich. As the half went on, Arbeloa’s young side slowly found a foothold, though their loose play on the ball kept causing problems of their own making, and captain Calvin Bassey called for calm midway through.
With Josh King’s influence growing, Fulham had their best chances. In the 22nd minute, David Affengruber headed over from a fine Alex Iwobi cross. Sessegnon sent an effort wide shortly after, Sander Berge’s free-kick hit the wall, and Shea Charles put the follow-up off target. Berge’s next effort was pushed over by Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton, and £34 million forward Gonzalo García lashed wide after a slick attack led by King. The sides went in goalless.
Sessegnon Puts Fulham Ahead
Fulham had two penalty appeals waved away after the break. García was furious when a shot of his was blocked on the line by Issa Diop’s arm, though the former Fulham defender’s arm was in a natural position. Fulham’s protests turned into celebrations from the resulting corner. Sessegnon controlled Diop’s clearance and rifled a left-footed shot into the bottom corner from 25 yards to make it 1-0 in the 55th minute.
Both sides then squandered chances. Emersonn headed against a post from six yards for Ipswich after a wonderful Enciso cross, and Oscar Bobb blazed over for Fulham.
Ipswich Throw Everything Forward
Gary O’Neil responded with Jack Clarke, Chuba Akpom, and Zian Flemming off the bench. Ipswich were furious in the 75th minute when Daizen Maeda went down after contact from Sessegnon, but referee Lewis Smith and VAR rejected the penalty appeal.
When goalkeeper Bernd Leno kept out a shot from Ipswich substitute Sindre Walle Egeli, Arbeloa was minutes away from his first league win.
Ouattara and O’Shea Turn It Around
In the 88th minute, Abdoul Ouattara hammered a thunderbolt into the bottom corner from 30 yards, beating Leno for his first Premier League goal. Moments later, in the first minute of stoppage time, Clarke whipped in a free-kick and O’Shea, the Ipswich captain, headed home to send Portman Road into wild celebration.
Walton then made a late save to deny Fulham and protect the lead.
What It Means
It was Ipswich’s third win of the Premier League season, and it lifts them into the top half of the table and puts them seven points clear of Fulham. For Arbeloa, the former Real Madrid manager, it’s another painful result. His team has just two points from six league games and spends another week in the relegation zone, after a late collapse that could easily have been a win.
