Erling Haaland continued his prolific scoring form by netting in each half, bringing his seasonal tally to 12 goals. The Norwegian striker reached 100 non-penalty goals faster than any other player in Premier League history. Mateo Kovacic teed up the opening header for Haaland in the first half before Iliman Ndiaye provided the assist for a well-taken second goal after the break. Haaland was later denied a hat-trick when a late effort was overturned following a VAR review.
Foden Breaks Drought and Ipswich Fight Back
The breakthrough arrived through Phil Foden, who scored his first goal since December 2025 to end a 23-game scoreless run. Jeremy Doku carved out the opportunity with sharp wing play, allowing Foden to beat goalkeeper Christian Walton with a guided low finish in the 19th minute. Ipswich responded within 155 seconds when Daizen Maeda bypassed the City defense to equalize with a low shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Despite City controlling large periods of the fixture, jittery finishes have become a recurring theme. Zian Flemming converted an 88th-minute penalty awarded via VAR after contact inside the box, reducing the deficit to 3-2 and setting up a tense conclusion. Maresca’s side ultimately held firm through over 100 minutes of total play, making their manager the first to win his opening seven Premier League matches in charge of a new club.
Manager Reaction and Injury Concerns
Following the final whistle, Maresca addressed minor fitness concerns after several players finished the match with knocks. “Unfortunately, in 10 minutes, we had four or five players with injury issues,” Maresca told Sky Sports, mentioning Kovacic, Haaland, Antoine, and Nico. Regarding Haaland’s apparent discomfort walking down the tunnel, the manager added that the striker indicated he was okay and that nothing appeared serious.
Ipswich manager Gary O’Neil expressed pride in his side’s competitive display despite the narrow defeat. “Really disappointed. I did believe we could take points. I’m proud of what the players gave,” O’Neil told Sky Sports. “It takes a lot to come here and keep yourself in the game. We’ve still shown everyone we can compete.”
Reporting source: skysports.com.