SunderlandvsIpswich Town
SUN 1/IPS 2
Things to say
Ipswich Town beat Sunderland 2-1 at Portman Road on opening day.
01
opener
Ipswich nicked it 2-1 at home. Grabbed both goals and just about held on. Sunderland pushed late but couldn't find the equalizer.
02
key player
Enciso was the liveliest one out there, led everyone with three shots. Bit of quality that Ipswich needed after coming up.
03
hot take
Xhaka had 68 accurate passes and still lost. All that possession for Sunderland and nothing to show for it. Shambolic finishing.
04
deep cut
Dara O'Shea put in 21 defensive interventions at the back. Kept throwing his body in front of everything, that's why they got the three points.
05
exit
Long season though, one game in. Curious to see if Ipswich can back it up next weekend.
The recap
Ipswich made Portman Road count, edging Sunderland 2-1 to open the season with a proper statement. Julio Enciso was the livewire up top, leading the shots and giving Sunderland's back line no peace all afternoon.
Granit Xhaka ran the show in midfield for the visitors with 68 accurate passes, but all that possession never turned into the goals that mattered. Sunderland got one back to make it nervy, yet Ipswich held firm and took all three points in front of their own.