EPL: Fulham Come from Behind Twice to Earn 2-2 Draw with Ipswich

Raul Jimenez scored two penalties as Fulham rescued a point against Ipswich Town, denying the Tractor Boys their first back-to-back Premier League wins since 2002.

A late penalty from Jimenez secured a hard-earned point for Fulham, as they came from behind twice to salvage a 2-2 draw against a resilient Ipswich Town side at Craven Cottage. This result extended Fulham's unbeaten streak to eight matches, while denying Ipswich their first consecutive Premier League wins since 2002.

Ipswich Town arrived at Craven Cottage brimming with confidence, having stunned Chelsea 2-0 in their previous Premier League outing. However, it was Fulham who dominated the early proceedings, exerting complete control over possession and pinning the Tractor Boys deep within their own half.

Despite their dominance, Fulham found it challenging to craft clear-cut opportunities, but Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton was still tested in the 20th minute, producing an exceptional save to deny Raul Jimenez's powerful header.

The match took a contentious turn shortly afterwards, as Fulham manager Marco Silva was left fuming at the referee's decision not to dismiss Leif Davis for a reckless challenge on Harry Wilson. The Welsh midfielder had been racing towards goal when Davis brought him down, prompting Silva to vehemently protest the referee's leniency.

Marco Silva's frustration reached boiling point as Ipswich snatched the lead against the run of play, just before halftime. Nathan Broadhead's cross was headed against the bar by a desperate Antonee Robinson, and in the ensuing chaos, Calvin Bassey's weak clearance fell to an unmarked Sammie Szmodics. Szmodics capitalized on the opportunity, scoring his fourth Premier League goal of the season – all of which have come away from home – via a deflection off Bassey.

In a bid to inject life into Fulham's stagnant attack, Silva made a triple substitution, introducing Emile Smith Rowe, Andreas Pereira, and Rodrigo Muniz. This bold move aimed to revitalize the Cottagers' forward line and inspire a comeback against the resilient Ipswich Town side.

The turning point arrived when Harry Wilson was brought down by Sam Morsy inside the penalty area, prompting a spot-kick to be awarded after a VAR review, despite referee Darren Bond's initial hesitation. Raul Jimenez remained composed under pressure, slotting home the penalty with ease from 12 yards, restoring parity for the hosts.

However, Fulham's relief was short-lived, as they conceded another penalty just 21 seconds into the second half. This time, Timothy Castagne's foul on Liam Delap inside the area handed Ipswich another opportunity to take the lead. The visitors' top scorer, Szmodics, stepped up to the spot and emphatically slammed home the penalty, sending the away end into raptures and leaving Marco Silva fuming in the dugout.

With Fulham requiring another comeback, they drew inspiration from their reputation as one of the Premier League's most prolific teams in the final 15 minutes, with only Bournemouth scoring more goals beyond the 75th minute this season. However, Kieran McKenna's Ipswich Town side were aware of this threat and remained vigilant, as evidenced by their narrow escape when an unmarked Raul Jiménez headed wide from a set-piece.

In a dramatic turn of events, Fulham was awarded a third penalty of the contest, just as time seemed to be running out. Leif Davis's trip on Jiménez, mere seconds after Jack Clarke had struck the post at the other end, handed the hosts another opportunity to level the score. Jiménez once again demonstrated his composure, confidently converting the penalty from 12 yards to ensure a share of the spoils. This result extended Fulham's unbeaten head-to-head run against Ipswich to nine matches, while leaving the Tractor Boys rooted in the relegation zone.