Marcelino Nunez produced a moment of pure magic from the halfway line, a strike that proved decisive as Ipswich Town secured a gritty 3-1 victory over Leicester City in the Carabao Cup. The two clubs had met just over a year earlier in a Premier League encounter, but this time the setting was the historic Portman Road and the stakes were different. Leicester arrived still reeling from a painful defeat to Burton Albion in League One, a loss that had left their manager Russell Martin under intense scrutiny.
Despite the pressure, the Foxes managed to keep the first half scoreless, holding off Ipswich’s early surges. The deadlock finally broke in the 62nd minute when Gary O'Neil’s side capitalised on a clever move. Chuba Akpom threaded a pass to Sindre Walle Egeli, whose left‑footed finish slipped past Leicester goalkeeper Christian Walton, giving Ipswich the lead. The goal was a testament to the quality that O'Neil has cultivated in his squad, and it sparked a brief celebration before Leicester responded.
Just five minutes later, a 19‑year‑old Leicester substitute, Olabade Aluko, found the net after a corner from Louis Page was flicked on by Bobby De Cordova‑Reid, restoring parity and setting the stage for a dramatic finish. The match’s defining moment arrived in the 71st minute when former Norwich midfielder Marcelino Nunez, who joined Ipswich last summer, struck the ball off a post and forced it home.
It was his first goal at Portman Road, and it reignited the home crowd’s energy. Yet Nunez was not done. In stoppage time, after the ball was played back into the centre circle, he spotted Leicester’s substitute keeper Jakub Stolarczyk slightly off his line. With composure and vision, Nunez launched a soaring 50‑yard lob that sailed over the goalkeeper and into the net, sealing a 3‑1 win and sending Ipswich into the third round of the Carabao Cup for only the second time in eleven seasons.
Leicester’s manager Russell Martin endured a chorus of boos from his own supporters after their earlier loss to Burton, and the early minutes of this cup tie saw his side nearly concede within the first half‑minute. However, Chuba Akpom’s early chance was wasted, and the Foxes quickly settled into a more disciplined defensive shape. Brighton loanee Tom Watson tested Walton with a curling effort, but the Ipswich keeper was up to the task, making a crucial save that kept the score level.
On the opposite end, Ipswich’s backup goalkeeper Christian Walton denied Christian McFarlane’s attempted chip in the 20th minute after a precise pass from Louis Page. Meanwhile, Leicester’s Jakub Stolarczyk produced a fine save from a header by Dara O'Shea, demonstrating that both sides possessed capable custodians.
The half concluded with Leicester pressing forward; Conor Chaplin’s curler was pushed wide by Walton, hinting at the attacking intent that would later materialise. The second half opened with Ipswich midfielder Kasey McAteer seeing a goal ruled out for off‑side, a disappointment that was quickly eclipsed by Chaplin’s substitution.
At the hour mark, Martin gave Chaplin a standing ovation as he left the field, and shortly after, Akpom’s forward pass found Jack Clarke, whose square ball reached Egeli for the opening goal. Five minutes later, Leicester equalised when Page’s corner was nudged on by De Cordova‑Reid and Aluko tapped in his first professional goal, a moment of personal triumph amid the collective disappointment. Nunez’s influence grew as the match progressed.
After a turnover by Woyo Coulibaly, Nunez smashed a shot that ricocheted off the post and into the net, restoring Ipswich’s lead. When Akpom missed a one‑on‑one chance later, the Chilean international seized the moment, adding a second goal that put the game beyond Leicester’s reach. The climax came in stoppage time when Nunez, after gathering the ball in the centre circle, observed Stolarczyk off his line and executed an audacious lob that floated gracefully over the keeper and settled in the back of the net. The goal was a masterclass in vision, technique, and confidence, and it cemented Ipswich’s victory.
After the final whistle, Ipswich manager Gary O'Neil praised Nunez’s impact. He admitted that the decision to let Nunez take the chance from distance was not obvious, but he defended it, noting that the result spoke for itself.
O'Neil highlighted Nunez’s recent form, describing him as “an unbelievable, humble kid who never stops working,” and emphasized the importance of maintaining his momentum as the team prepared for a challenging weekend fixture against Manchester United. Leicester’s manager Russell Martin, despite the loss, expressed admiration for his players’ effort. He described the performance as brave, aggressive, and intense, both with and without the ball.
While acknowledging the disappointment of a 3‑1 defeat, Martin remained optimistic, noting the early stage of the season and the positive reaction from the fans. He hinted that the team would learn from the experience and look forward to future successes. Overall, the match showcased the unpredictable drama of cup football. Nunez’s half‑field lob will be remembered as one of the competition’s standout moments, a testament to individual brilliance that can change the course of a game.
Ipswich’s progression to the next round underscores the club’s growing confidence under O'Neil, while Leicester will need to regroup after a difficult start to their season. The encounter also provided a platform for young talents like Olabade Aluko to announce themselves on a larger stage, adding another layer of intrigue to the unfolding narratives of both clubs.