Haaland’s brace proves decisive as Ipswich’s late fightback falls short

Erling Haaland scored twice as Manchester City beat Ipswich Town 3-2, with Zian Flemming’s penalty in the 12 minutes of added time setting up a final push that never produced an equaliser. Ipswich twice responded to going behind, but Haaland’s second goal restored a two-goal cushion and proved the difference.

City opened the scoring through Phil Foden, who finished a Jeremy Doku cross. Ipswich answered immediately: Abdoul Ouattara sent a pass in behind for Daizen Maeda, who kept his composure to score his first goal for the club. Ouattara has now recorded two goals and two assists in two league games this season.

Ipswich had a chance to take more from their response. Emersonn headed wide at the back post after the break, then drove forward on a counter-attack and fired over. Christian Walton had also kept City from adding to their lead earlier, making a flying save from a Ruben Dias shot.

Haaland put City back in front before half-time, heading in Mateo Kovacic’s cross. He struck again after breaking through the middle of the Ipswich defence and finishing to make it 3-1. That was the key swing: Ipswich had shown they could answer City’s first goal, but Haaland’s second left them needing two more.

The late pressure gave Town a route back into the contest. Substitute Abdul Fatawu was fouled, and Flemming converted the resulting penalty as the board went up for 12 minutes of added time. Ipswich threatened again, but could not find a third goal. Azor Matusiwa also made his Premier League debut after coming on as a substitute.

The defeat leaves Ipswich 10th with nine points from seven games. Their response after falling behind twice offered encouragement, but the match also showed the cost of letting Haaland turn a narrow lead into a two-goal gap. Nottingham Forest visit Portman Road on Friday, 23 October.