adminPlacheta goal seals huge win for Oxford United vs Ipswich
Oxford United beat Ipswich Town 2-1 as Przemyslaw Placheta’s secured a massive three points for Gary Rowett and the U’s.
Mark Harris’ opener was cancelled out by Leif Davis before the Pole sealed three points with a neat finish at the Kassam.
Oxford started the game fairly slowly, sitting back into an early low block and allowing Kieran McKenna’s men to boss the ball. A first effort for the visitors came through Jaden Philogene who had space on the left to cut in and shoot only to have his effort blocked.
More chances came for the Tractor Boys, George Hirst bringing a ball down in the box and having a shot blocked before Egeli put a shot wide after working space in the U’s penalty area.
A second attempt from Egeli came even closer for the visitors as Davis stood a cross up for the Norwegian who nodded the ball onto the post and wide.
With Oxford pressing high from Ipswich goal kicks, the U’s found their moment.
Azor Matusiwa lost the ball near the Town box which Mark Harris pounced on. The striker had his first effort saved but swept the second past Christian Walton who could not recover quick enough.
The goal was the Welshman’s first of the season as he looks to turn his form around and it clearly did his confidence the world of good. Just minutes later the 26-year-old tried to lob a wandering Walton from just inside the Ipswich half but could not get enough on it to test the keeper.
United kept up their momentum, Brian De Keersmaecker firing an effort straight at Walton as the Belgian searches for his first goal in Yellow.
A final chance came just before the half-time whistle as Stan Mills sat his man down and dug a shot out from the edge of the area which was parried by the Town keeper.
After petering out in the first period, the Tractor Boys came out swinging in the second half. The equaliser came as Davis hit a sweet side-footed volley past Jamie Cumming who was rooted to the spot.
With a spring in their step, Ipswich kept testing Cumming. Marcelino Nunez and George Hirst both forced impressive saves out of the U’s keeper who stood firm.
A Will Vaulks long throw caused trouble at the other end as Michal Helik flicked in on to Will Lankshear whose shot was saved.
The next chance Oxford took, as De Keersmaecker sent a lovely ball over to substitute Placheta who brought it down with aplomb before slotting the ball into the bottom right corner.
Fellow sub then Ole Romeny almost put a wonder strike into the top left corner prior to Tyler Goodrham poking an effort at Walton from a tight angle and De Keersmaecker sending one wide at the near post.
That’s where the onslaught began. With less than five minutes remaining, Cumming was forced into a brilliant save to keep Ivan Azon out at point blank range before Nunez had a shot blocked and Jack Clarke saw his follow-up effort squandered.
More Ipswich pressure came to nothing as the U’s remained structured and steadfast to see out an enormous three points to go 19th in the Championship at the start of the weekend
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