In the end, it was total carnage within this famous old ground. They’ve dreamed all season, but was this the night it all started to seem like a reality?
Ipswich Town haven’t played in the Premier League since 2002. They’re almost there.
Running into adversity is the mission around these parts and Kieran McKenna’s side took it literally with a 97th-minute goal from Jeremy Sarmiento to once again lead the championship.
‘It was right up there. Winning it like that in the last minute is a moment we really appreciated,” said McKenna, who joined the wild celebrations in the dugout before gesturing for everyone to calm down and finish the game.
“We all got lost a little bit, the substitutes, the staff, everyone. If you can’t get lost in that moment, you’ll probably never get lost in anything, so there’s about five to ten seconds of elation, but after that, I knew the job wasn’t done. Crazier things have happened in football and my job is to be the first to respond,” he added.
Jeremy Sarmiento (right) came off the bench to score a dramatic late goal for Ipswich Town.
The Brighton loanee’s goal puts Ipswich two points clear at the top of the league table
Nathan Broadhead’s second half goal helped Ipswich come back to win.
Southampton took the lead at half-time after goals from Che Adams and Adam Armstrong
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Earlier, Southampton had equalized thanks to Che Adams, a minute after Ipswich had taken the lead thanks to Leif Davis and the visitors had gone ahead thanks to Adam Armstrong.
Russell Martin’s side were in control when McKenna headed to his bench on the hour mark with an inspired triple substitution that changed the game. Substitute Nathan Broadhead equalized in the 68th minute before another replacement in Sarmiento sent a packed Portman Road delirious.
Instead of Fergie Time, he was asked if he was McKenna Time after another late Ipswich goal.
‘It’s a good habit. It doesn’t happen by chance, it’s a great way to win a game.” McKenna insisted.
With seven steps left to reach the promised land, this was possibly the toughest game left for Ipswich.
Before the match, fans joked that Norwich were never going to do them any favors after their previous defeat at Leicester and for much of this exciting contest, it looked like a former Norwich manager at Southampton, Martin, was going to ruin them on Monday. of Easter.
It was Ipswich who struck first with a thunderous strike from Davis. Captain Sam Morsy found Davis on the left side of the penalty area, who took a touch before firing a left-footed shot past Gavin Bazunu.
The home fans had barely stopped celebrating when Southampton instantly equalized from the restart when Joe Aribo found Che Adams, who cleverly slotted past Vaclav Hladky. Nine minutes later they were ahead after a ruthless move from the back with the two Armstrong brothers in Stuart and Adam combining.
Armstrong scored in the 23rd minute of the game to silence the home crowd at Portman Road.
Full-back Leif Davis had initially put the hosts ahead before Adams and Armstrong attacked.
James Bree was sent off for the visitors in the final moments of regulation time
Kieran McKenna’s team are about to play in the Premier League next year
With the Saints in control, McKenna made three changes on the hour and Broadhead finished beautifully after a brilliant Ipswich move to level.
Both teams pushed for a winner and Southampton had to play the final minutes with ten men after the last man, James Bree, was sent off for bringing down Davis.
They also had to pay when Sarmiento finished off in the second half by calling for a ball from Davis to send the ground into ecstasy.
“We were the best team, the dominant team,” Martín insisted. “We didn’t deserve to lose. I am very proud of the players and that gives me a lot of confidence about what is to come. If we win our eight games, we will finish with 98 points and I don’t think anyone has ever scored so many points,” he added. But this is not just any season.
For McKenna and company, however, Ipswich is almost there. Although he still refused to talk about the Premier League.
“It’s about days like this, in front of a full stadium, going toe-to-toe against a team that was in the Premier League last season with the trajectory we’re on. These are things to enjoy and value in isolation, really. ”, he insisted.
From running into adversity to running with pure joy, towards the Premier League.