In a closely fought contest, Southampton and Ipswich Town battled to a 1-1 draw at St. Mary’s Stadium. The game saw Ipswich strike late in the 94th minute through Sam Morsy to equalize after an early goal from Dibling gave Southampton the lead. Both teams showed moments of dominance, but Ipswich’s resilience paid off as they clawed their way back into the game.
Stat Breakdown
Southampton had the edge in expected goals (xG), racking up 2.00 compared to Ipswich’s 0.90, reflecting their slightly more dangerous chances throughout the match. Despite the xG differential, Ipswich remained solid defensively and took advantage of their late opportunity.
Southampton took 7 shots, with 2 on target, while Ipswich had 13 shots, with 6 on target. Southampton had fewer touches in the box (15) compared to Ipswich’s 20, indicating the visitors were able to penetrate the box more frequently, although less clinically. Ipswich managed to win more dribbles (23 to Southampton’s 6), but Southampton’s progressive runs (18) kept the home side on the front foot.
Match Momentum
The match momentum graph reveals that Southampton dominated the early stages, capped off by Dibling’s 5th-minute goal. Southampton’s attack showed consistent pressure until the 60th minute, when Ipswich started to gain more control of the game, culminating in Morsy’s stoppage-time equalizer. Ipswich struggled to create high xG chances early, but as the match wore on, their persistence in finding spaces finally paid off.
Shots Analysis
Ipswich’s shot map shows they had more attempts overall, with shots coming from central positions just outside and inside the box. However, Southampton’s defense held firm, blocking three of Ipswich’s shots. Ipswich’s best chance came late, with a scrappy finish from close range by Morsy, but their overall shot accuracy could have been better to threaten Southampton more consistently.
Southampton’s shot map indicates a more concentrated attack. Dibling’s early strike came from a central area just inside the box (xG: 0.15), but after the goal, they struggled to generate high-quality chances, accumulating only 2 shots on target from 7 attempts.
Possession Tactics
Ipswich’s pass map demonstrates a well-coordinated approach through Sam Morsy and S. Szmodics in midfield, as both players served as focal points in linking defense and attack. Ipswich’s build-up play was direct, with central routes dominating the connection between Morsy and forwards L. Delap and O. Hutchinson.
On the other hand, Southampton’s pass map showed greater fluidity across the pitch, with Mateus Fernandes and Adam Lallana controlling possession in deeper areas. The involvement of full-backs Y. Sugawara and C. Taylor also highlights their attempts to widen the play and stretch Ipswich’s defense.
Both teams will be content with a point but know they could have done more to secure a win. Southampton showed good control but lacked cutting-edge finishing, while Ipswich’s persistence was rewarded with a late goal. For Ipswich, taking more of their chances will be crucial moving forward, while Southampton must find a way to capitalize on their moments of dominance.