Ipswich Town extends their lead in the promotion race with a 2-1 victory over Watford, courtesy of a late goal by Sam Morsy.
Ipswich staged a comeback to secure a 2-1 victory over Watford, thereby claiming the top spot in the Championship from Leicester. Yaser Asprilla’s early goal for the Hornets initially made the odds unfavorable for Kieran McKenna’s visitors to secure the necessary win to surpass Leicester in the standings. However, George Hirst’s equalizer set the stage for an engaging match, ultimately decided by Ipswich captain Sam Morsy in the 80th minute.
The evening began with Mileta Rajovic heading the first chance over the Ipswich crossbar in the fourth minute, and Marcus Harness responding with a straightforward header at Hornets goalkeeper Ben Hamer in the 11th minute. Ipswich then unintentionally handed Watford the lead a minute later when a back pass from Axel Tuanzebe to goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky resulted in Asprilla intercepting and scoring.
Conor Chaplin attempted a volley in the 18th minute, but Hamer saved it. Ipswich leveled the score in the 24th minute through Hirst, who capitalized on a deflected shot from Omari Hutchinson. The match continued with attacking play from both sides, but defenses tightened, with Hirst hitting Hamer’s near post in the 60th minute.
The deciding moment came in the 80th minute when Ipswich capitalized on Wesley Hoedt’s error. The Dutch defender lost possession, allowing Morsy to advance and slot the ball past Hamer.
In the aftermath, Watford’s manager Valerien Ismael acknowledged mistakes as part of the game, emphasizing the need for concentration. Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna praised his team’s character and effort, highlighting Morsy’s determination in securing the victory.
