Stoppage time breakthrough for Town in a 4-3 victory

Ipswich Town advanced to third place in the Championship table after a thrilling 4-3 win over Rotherham United at Portman Road.

The Millers, who have only four points on the road this season, took a shock second-minute lead through Tom Eaves, but the Blues responded with goals from Wes Burns (2) and Kieffer Moore, giving them a 3-1 advantage at the break.

Following a rough start to the second period, Rotherham equalized around the hour mark when Hakeem Odoffin capitalized on a misplaced Vaclav Hladky punch to blast into an open net.

It appeared that the victory had been squandered when, in the fourth minute of stoppage time, sub Kayden Jackson was found to have tripped Peter Kioso in the area, and Cafu scored from a Panenka penalty.

A minute later, however, Ipswich took the lead when Jackson brought the ball back into the area for Omari Hutchinson to take a touch, blast home, and raise the roof.

Kieran McKenna’s team now leads Southampton in the league after a 2-1 loss at home to Hull, following three consecutive wins in seven days. The Blues now have the same number of points as second-placed Leeds

Town manager Kieran McKenna made three changes to the lineup that began the hard-fought 2-1 victory over Swansea three days ago. Lewis Travis, a Blackburn loanee, replaced Massimo Luongo in midfield, while Wes Burns and Jeremy Sarmiento replaced Omari Hutchinson and Nathan Broadhead, respectively, in the wide attacking positions.

Rotherham took the lead with less than two minutes remaining after some tentative home defence. Harry Clarke had the opportunity to clear, but opted to shield under pressure. Sam Clucas used his foot to prod the ball forwards, and Eaves opened up his body in the box to direct a cool finish past an exposed Vaclav Hladky.

After that early setback, the Ipswich players and fans responded brilliantly, and Moore came close to scoring when he sprang highest in the box to head an enticing Leif Davis deep dead ball pass just wide of the far post.

Town’s equaliser came in the ninth minute. A period of pressure began when Sarmiento performed admirably by spinning his opponent and switching the play to the right. Burns had two crosses into the box cleared, but Rotherham were powerless when Sam Morsy flicked a ball back into the area for Burns to score with a solid stooping header across the goal.

Burns came close to scoring again three minutes later, darting past Clucas down the right side of the box and firing a low shot inches past the far post.

Town took the lead in the 14th minute with a beautiful move that had the crowd ecstatic. Clarke’s pass up the line was perfectly weighted, Burns won the foot race once more, and Moore side-footed home on the run after receiving an inch-perfect low cross.

In the 20th minute, Moore, who was proving to be a genuine handful up top, sat down on the field for some treatment. The sight of him finally standing up to continue elicited a loud applause from the home crowd.

Town extended their lead in the 29th minute, with Burns scoring his second of the game. The flying Welsh winger, who had once again broken free down the right side of the box, saw his initial low attempt saved by the goalkeeper. Sarmiento’s scrambled follow-up shot was likewise saved by Viktor Johansson, but Burns was there to stab the loose ball into an open net.

In the 34th minute, Rotherham midfielder Ollie Rathbone tumbled badly into the advertising hoardings after colliding with Sarmiento. Following a lengthy halt, he exited the field and sat up in a golf buggy, to enthusiastic acclaim from both home and away spectators.

Burns had a fantastic opportunity to complete a hat-trick in the first half once the game restarted. Davis’ deep ball just eluded Moore’s head in the centre of the box, and Burns, possibly seeing it late, deflected a far post header the wrong side of the upright.

Due to two lengthy injury breaks, the first half was extended by 10 minutes. Rotherham played the best throughout the time, while Ipswich performed well to defend several corners.

McKenna replaced Sarmiento with Broadhead at halftime, giving the Welsh attacker a chance to build on his recent scoring streak.

The second half began in a scrappy, stop-start fashion. Burns required medical care following an aerial clash with Peter Kioso, Luke Woolfenden feared he was caught by a flailing Eaves elbow, and Millers midfielder Tiehi required treatment after colliding with Morsy.

Rotherham unexpectedly equalized around the hour mark. A long, high ball into the Ipswich box caused Hladky to come off his line and miss with a punch over the bodies. When the ball dropped, Hakeem Odoffin was the first to react, firing into an open goal.

Ipswich nearly restored their two-goal lead in the 67th minute, despite a nervous moment after the goal. Following Conor Chaplin’s excellent reverse pass under pressure, Burns brushed off Kioso’s attention in the box, only to see his close-range effort superbly saved by keeper Johansson.

McKenna replaced Travis and Chaplin with Luongo and Hutchinson, respectively, in the 72nd minute. Three minutes later, he was obliged to replace the injured Clarke with Axel Tuanzebe, who has been dealing with an Achilles injury all season.

Johansson’s long kick upfield resulted in Eaves winning the flick-on over Woolfenden. Thankfully, Davis was there to block Nombe’s shot. A minute later, a ball into the Ipswich box from the left was not cleared, and Nombe’s shot on the turn hit the outside of the left post.

With nerves on edge, Rotherham’s late push resulted in an equaliser. Sub Jackson was found to have tripped Kioso in the box, and Cafu scored with a clever Panenka penalty.

Deflation quickly turned to euphoria, however, as Jackson dragged the ball back for Hutchinson to score the most spectacular of victories.

IPSWICH TOWN (4-2-3-1): Hladky; Clarke (Tuanzebe 75), Woolfenden, Burgess, Davis; Travis (Luongo 72), Morsy (cpt); Burns (Jackson 88), Chaplin (Hutchinson 72), Sarmiento (Broadhead 46); Moore (Al-Hamadi 80).

Unused subs: Walton, Humphreys, Harness.

ROTHERHAM UNITED (3-5-2): Johansson; Odoffin, Morrison (cpt), Peltier (Humphreys 72); Kioso, Rinomhota (Cafu 86), Rathbone (Seriki 36), Tiehi, Clucas; Hugill (Nombe 72), Eaves (Wyke 86).

Unused subs: Phillips, Ferguson, Lindsay, Appiah.

Attendance: 28,026 (145 away)

Referee: Keith Stroud.