- Ipswich’s Liam Delap opened the scoring with a long-range shot in the 15th minute.
- Adama Traore later levelled the score to give the travelling Cottagers a point
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It was a goal that we will not soon forget around here, both for the quality of the strike and for its significance.
Galloping from the halfway line towards the Fulham box, Liam Delap exuded the confidence of a seasoned talisman, an assurance with the ball at his feet that belied his lack of experience.
The 21-year-old had to wait patiently for a gap to open up in the crowd that had gathered on the edge of Fulham’s penalty area.
When that chance arose, Delap seized it with a decisive right-foot move, sending the ball into the top left corner, past a helpless Bernd Leno.
Delap struck the ball with such force it felt like it might burst through the net. The celebrations that followed Ipswich’s first home Premier League goal since Darren Bent scored against Middlesbrough 22 years ago were so loud it felt like your eardrums were going to burst.
Ipswich secured their first point since returning to the Premier League against Fulham
Liam Delap (far right) exuded the confidence of a seasoned talisman as he opened the scoring
The Blues’ bubble would be burst by Adama Traore, who scored Fulham’s equaliser in the 32nd minute of the match.
Delap happily hit the corner flag, but even more powerful was the ecstasy that emanated from the stands and reverberated across the old steel framework and corrugated roofs of Portman Road.
But the Blues’ bubble was burst by Adama Traore. The Fulham forward struck just after the half-hour mark, spoiling the party after Antonee Robinson managed to create some space to deliver a cross.
The home side had made a good start. Jacob Greaves slid away from Emile Smith Rowe to reach Leif Davis’ deep corner, but Leno was able to keep out Greaves’ effort.
With the game crying out to be grabbed by the neck, Davis did just that by firing from long range towards the halfway line and then playing Delap forward.
Delap took over Davis’ lead and charged towards the Fulham goal before firing into the top left corner. The same man should have blown the roof off again two minutes later but could only head wide from Davis’ corner.
Fulham were in joy on the flanks and finally the good cross they missed came from Robinson.
Traore was in the right place in the penalty area at the right time to tap the low cross past Arijanet Muric into the Ipswich goal and celebrated by hoisting Rodrigo Muniz – by no means a small man – over his broad shoulders.
Muniz, back on the ground, should have put the visitors ahead moments later, but his header went straight to Muric.
That was one of the few real chances for the visitors as Kalvin Phillips, making his Premier League debut for the home side, took charge from midfield.
There was a real scare when a rare Fulham attack forced Jacob Greaves into a brave block to stop Smith Rowe, with the former Arsenal man’s subsequent corner effort just wide.
Rodrigo Muniz should have put the visitors ahead, but his header went straight at the keeper
Kieran McKenna’s team are still waiting for the first three precious points of the season
At the other end, Leno was quick to block Chiedozie Ogbene’s attack, but substitute Jack Clarke curled the ball just wide with minutes remaining.
But the second goal failed to materialize for the home team and so the wait for the first three points of the season is still ongoing.
