EPL: Bournemouth Stuns Ipswich with Late Comeback

Ipswich's home struggles continued as Bournemouth snatched a late win, moving up the Premier League table. Get the latest match updates.

Bournemouth staged a dramatic late comeback to defeat Ipswich 2-1 at Portman Road, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Ipswich had been on course for their first home Premier League win since 2002, courtesy of Conor Chaplin's first-half strike, until Bournemouth's late surge.

Ipswich Town had created several scoring opportunities in the first half, with Chaplin showcasing his composure to score his first Premier League goal. Cameron Burgess also came close, heading the ball onto the roof of the net. Meanwhile, Bournemouth's Marcus Tavernier squandered two early chances, failing to make contact from a yard out and then striking the post.

The visitors emerged with renewed intent after the break, but their finishing continued to let them down. Antoine Semenyo, Evanilson, Justin Kluivert, and Lewis Cook all failed to find the target, and it seemed as though Ipswich would hold on for a crucial win. However, Bournemouth's substitutes Enes Unal and Dango Ouattara had other plans.

Unal equalized in the 87th minute, beating Cameron Burgess to the ball at the far post. This goal sparked a dramatic finale, and even though Ipswich still had a point within their grasp, their momentum seemed to dissipate. Bournemouth sensed their chance and pushed forward, culminating in a beautifully crafted passing move that ended with Ouattara scoring the winner in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

The victory propelled Bournemouth up to eighth in the Premier League table, just three points shy of fourth-placed Manchester City. In contrast, Ipswich remains 18th, four points adrift of safety, and still searching for their first home Premier League win in over two decades.

Ipswich's victory over Tottenham on November 10 marked their first Premier League win of the season, but they are still awaiting their maiden home triumph. The visit of Bournemouth, who were competing in their third match in nine days, presented an ideal opportunity for Ipswich to break their home duck. However, despite their fresher legs and dominant start, Ipswich ultimately succumbed to a dramatic late comeback.

Ipswich's initial dominance was evident, with Conor Chaplin's beautifully taken opener lifting the spirits of the home crowd on a damp afternoon. Sammie Szmodics later came close to doubling Ipswich's advantage in the second half, but aside from these moments, Bournemouth goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was rarely tested. Ipswich's defense, which has now conceded 27 goals, proved fragile once again in the latter stages, as discipline gave way to desperation.

The manner in which Ipswich conceded both goals was avoidable, with plenty of defenders back to deal with deliveries into the box. However, the home side's inability to clear their lines ultimately proved costly. Ipswich's struggles in the Premier League are a far cry from their recent successes in League One and the Championship, where they regularly strung together victories. As they battle to avoid relegation, Ipswich must find a way to crack the code at Portman Road, where they are still searching for their first home win.

In a separate development, Ipswich confirmed that club ambassador and former midfielder Simon Milton, 61, was hospitalized after falling ill during the second half. Fortunately, Milton was reported to be “stable and communicating” and is expected to head home to rest. The club expressed their gratitude to the first responders at Portman Road and those who have sent their best wishes, while requesting that everyone respect the privacy of Simon and his family.

Bournemouth faced a quick turnaround following their 1-0 win over Tottenham on Thursday, and manager Andoni Iraola's decision to make only one change to his starting lineup raised eyebrows. Initially, this choice seemed to backfire, as Bournemouth's signature high-energy pressing was absent for most of the first half. Although the Cherries created some chances, only Marcus Tavernier's shot off the post posed a serious threat to Arijanet Muric's goal, as Ipswich appeared to be in control.

Whatever Iraola's halftime message was, it clearly had a profound impact, as Bournemouth emerged from the break with renewed vigor. Justin Kluivert, Evanilson, Lewis Cook, and Antoine Semenyo all attempted to break down Ipswich's defense, which had dropped deep in an attempt to protect their lead. As the match wore on, Bournemouth's frustration grew, but Iraola's timely substitutions proved to be the turning point. The introduction of Enes Unal and Dango Ouattara transformed the game, as they combined to score two late goals and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Bournemouth's dramatic comeback win marks their third successive top-flight victory, propelling them up the table and raising hopes that they might challenge for a European spot. This result also represents the first time the Cherries have recorded back-to-back away wins since a run of four between November and December last year. Bournemouth's next away trip will be to Manchester United on December 22, a challenging fixture that will test their mettle.