Norwich City Under-18s took a 3-2 loss to Ipswich Town after conceding a last-minute winner in a friendly on Tuesday afternoon.
Two rapid-fire goals from Ipswich saw the hosts go two goals up early, which was then levelled by City later on, before conceding a last-minute winner.
The young Canaries started the game off on the front foot, as Joe Duffy found the first chance of the game. The forward found himself with space in the host’s box, firing on goal, the shot forcing the ‘keeper to push the ball onto the post in just the 7th minute.
Town found their first breakthrough just minutes later as they made their way into the box and in front of goal, seeing their chance stopped by a vital clearance from Eddie Jackson.
The spirit of a derby was fierce in this game, neither side able to get a dangerous shot off in front of goal as both teams battled at each end of the pitch.
Just before the 30th minute, Ipswich broke the deadlock. A free-kick on the edge of the City box was helped along by a deflection off the wall, changing direction and finding the bottom corner past Sam Blair.
The opener gave the hosts a new lease of life, hunting the ball straight from the restart. Their pursuit paid off when the referee awarded a penalty in the box after a foul from Ola Okeowo.
Not making any mistakes, Town converted from the spot to double their lead just minutes after finding the first goal.
Two goals down didn’t stop the competition of this game, the Canaries fighting to get a goal back.
In the 40th minute, City were awarded a dangerous free-kick on the edge of the box. Jon Rowe stepped up to take it from 18-yards out, his shot just grazing the crossbar to wrap up the first 45-minutes.
As the second-half began, the Canaries were raring to go, kicking the half off with the same high press they’d shown in the first half. Nelson Khumbeni looked to spark a goal early as he fired from distance, his shot just wide of the post.
The Canaries were relentless in their pressure to find that much-needed goal, and they wouldn’t need to wait much longer for it.
Sitting inside the box, Rowe weighed up his choices of a pass, choosing to lay it back to Okeowo, who fired first-time into the top corner of the box.
Leaving no time to celebrate, the City side were straight back to the restart to hunt what was now an equaliser.
However, just minutes later, the City defence was leant on once again. Coming out of the box to punch a cross away, Town caught Blair off his line as they chipped the ball back on-target, until Jackson came out of nowhere with an unbelievable goal-line clearance to keep the game alive.
Only logging a single shot on target after 25 minutes, the Canaries were putting heavy pressure on the hosts in their search for the leveller.
That pressure wouldn’t stop from the Canaries, eventually breaking the hosts down. A well-timed run from Abu Kamara saw him in space behind the Town backline, slotting it past the ‘keeper for a hard-worked equaliser.
When it seemed it was all going to plan, Ipswich scored the winner with the last kick of the game. A free-kick caused havoc in the with Blair falling to the floor, leaving Town an open goal to tap in the winner.
Going home with a loss, it was nonetheless a hard-fought game from the Canaries, who left everything they had on the pitch.
Norwich City: Blair, Jackson, Okeowo, Hills, Shipley (Earley, 45), Warner, Duffy (Alidor-Hamilton, 80), Khumbeni, Thorn (Pitcher, 54), Kamara, Rowe
Subs not used: Stewart
Goals: Okeowo (53), Kamara (80)
Bookings: Hills (29), Rowe (32)
