Southampton edged past Ipswich Town in a tightly contested match, snatching a 2-1 victory thanks to a dramatic late winner. Ipswich controlled possession and created more chances, but the Saints’ efficiency in front of goal proved decisive. Paul Onuachu delivered the match-winning goal in the 87th minute, punishing the home side for their missed opportunities.

Match Momentum

The match momentum graph tells a compelling story—Ipswich were the aggressors for large portions, particularly in the first half and the closing stages. Southampton, however, found the net before halftime via Joe Aribo (20’), keeping them in the contest. Ipswich’s breakthrough came in the 30th minute through Liam Delap, who finished off a well-worked attack to equalize.

While Ipswich pushed for a winner in the second half, their profligacy in front of goal left them vulnerable. And then came Onuachu’s moment of brilliance—an 87th-minute strike that sealed the three points for the visitors.

Shot Analysis: Ipswich Create More, Southampton Convert More

Ipswich took 15 shots to Southampton’s 7, but it was Southampton who made their chances count. Ipswich generated an xG of 1.66, compared to Southampton’s 1.11, yet the visitors scored twice from only 4 shots on target.

Southampton were particularly clinical in key areas—Onuachu’s winner carried an xG of 0.82, highlighting just how high-quality that chance was. Ipswich, meanwhile, were left to rue their inefficiency, with Delap’s xG of 0.20 being one of their best opportunities.

Possession and Passing Styles

Ipswich dictated the tempo with 56% possession and a pass-heavy approach, as seen in their pass map. Their midfield trio of Morsy, Enciso, and Broadhead saw plenty of the ball, orchestrating attacking sequences. However, Southampton’s defensive structure forced Ipswich into low-percentage shots, with a lot of efforts coming from outside the box.

Southampton, in contrast, were more direct. Their pass map highlights a strong link between Harwood-Bellis, Aribo, and Onuachu, with the latter serving as a focal point. Their limited possession (44%) didn’t hinder them, as they relied on counter-attacks and moments of quality in the final third.

Final Thoughts

This was a lesson in clinical finishing. Ipswich will feel hard done by, given their higher xG and greater number of attempts, but their failure to convert cost them dearly. Southampton, meanwhile, showed resilience and made the most of their key opportunities.

Paul Onuachu’s late heroics ensured the Saints walked away with all three points, and with it, a valuable win in their push up the table.