Raul Jimenez scored two added-time penalties to earn Fulham a dramatic 2-2 draw against relegation-threatened Ipswich Town at Craven Cottage on Sunday. The result prevented Ipswich from moving out of the relegation zone as referee Darren Bond awarded three penalties during the match, underscoring the tension of the Premier League encounter.
Ipswich started strong, taking the lead against the run of play when Sam Szmodics struck first just before halftime. Szmodics capitalized on defensive mistakes, crashing the ball off Fulham’s Calvin Bassey and past goalkeeper Bernd Leno after Ben Johnson's header hit the crossbar. Although Fulham dominated possession and created numerous chances, they entered the break trailing.
The second half saw the intensity escalate, and Fulham's fortunes changed when Bond awarded them their first penalty of the match. Harry Wilson was brought down by Ipswich's Sam Morsy, and after initially waving off the appeal, Bond reversed his decision following VAR intervention. Jimenez coolly slotted home the penalty, leveling the score at 1-1.
Just two minutes later, Ipswich responded swiftly. Liam Delap, who had been influential throughout the match, was fouled by Timothy Castagne, resulting in Ipswich's second penalty of the day. Delap stepped up himself and converted, pushing Ipswich back to the lead at 2-1.
The drama didn’t end there; Ipswich nearly extended their lead with substitute Jack Clarke hitting the post. But Fulham continued to push forward, searching fervently for another equalizer. With time running out, Jimenez was again the hero. After being fouled by Leif Davis, he took to the spot for the second time, smashing the ball confidently past Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton to grab the equalizer deep in stoppage time.
After the match, Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna expressed mixed feelings. “When you lead twice, you always feel disappointed not to win,” he told Sky Sports. “I’m so proud of the way we played. We had some chances to get a two-goal margin but weren’t able to take them.” The match left Ipswich languishing third from bottom, now on the verge of falling short of consecutive league wins for the first time this season.
Fulham manager Marco Silva praised the perseverance of his team and the character displayed by Jimenez. “He showed the character and the calmness,” Silva noted. “There are many positives I take from the game. We cannot concede like we did, and we have been punished for some mistakes.” Silva also addressed the growing hopes for European qualification, urging his players to let their performance speak louder than ambitions.
With this result, Fulham remains mid-table, still firmly in the race for potential European competition, thanks to the heroics of Jimenez, who now boasts eight Premier League goals this season. Meanwhile, Ipswich’s battle against relegation continues as they seek to build on their competitive displays. Despite the disappointment of relinquishing leads, both teams showed grit and determination, making for yet another entertaining chapter of Premier League football.