Marcelino Nunez produced a moment of pure magic from the halfway line, a strike that proved decisive as Ipswich Town secured a hard‑earned 3-1 victory over Leicester City in the Carabao Cup. The match, a rematch of a Premier League encounter from just fifteen months earlier, saw the Foxes arrive at Portman Road still reeling from a bruising defeat to Burton Albion in League One. Their manager, Russell Martin, was under intense scrutiny, and his side managed only a goalless first half, allowing Ipswich to dictate the tempo.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 62nd minute when Gary O'Neil’s side capitalised on a well‑crafted move. Sindre Walle Egeli, a young talent with a flair reminiscent of top‑flight football, received a precise pass on the left and finished with a confident left‑footed strike that sent the home crowd into raptures.
However, Leicester responded swiftly. Just five minutes later, 19‑year‑old Olabade Aluko, making his first professional appearance, flicked a corner from Bobby De Cordova‑Reid onto his foot and tapped in a faint touch to level the scores, giving the Foxes a deserved equaliser.
The narrative of the game shifted dramatically when former Norwich midfielder Marcelino Nunez, now a key figure for Ipswich, stepped into the spotlight. After the half‑hour mark, Nunez found the back of the net for the first time at Portman Road since his summer transfer, firing home from close range after the ball ricocheted off the post. The goal restored Ipswich’s lead and set the tone for the remainder of the encounter. Yet the most astonishing moment arrived in stoppage time.
With the clock winding down, Nunez collected the ball near the centre circle, spotted Leicester goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk off his line, and launched a sublime 50‑yard lob that sailed over the keeper and into the net. This spectacular strike not only sealed the win but also propelled Ipswich into the third round of the Carabao Cup for only the second time in eleven seasons. Leicester’s early chances were limited, but they came close to opening the scoring within the first minute. A quick attack saw the ball in the box after just 33 seconds, but Chuba Akpom was unable to convert.
The Foxes soon settled, with Brighton loanee Tom Watson testing Ipswich keeper Christian Walton with a curling effort that missed the target. Meanwhile, Ipswich’s backup goalkeeper Walton made a crucial intervention in the 20th minute, denying Christian McFarlane’s attempted chip after a well‑timed pass from Louis Page.
On the opposite end, Jakub Stolarczyk produced a fine save from a header by Dara O'Shea, keeping Leicester in the contest. The second half began with Ipswich midfielder Kasey McAteer seeing a goal ruled out for off‑side, a decision that could have altered the momentum. Shortly thereafter, Conor Chaplin’s curler was saved by Walton, and the Foxes continued to press. At the hour mark, manager Russell Martin gave Chaplin a standing ovation before substituting him, a gesture that underscored the respect he commanded despite the eventual loss.
The sequence that led to Egeli’s goal unfolded when Akpom threaded a pass to Jack Clarke, who then squared the ball to Egeli. The Norwegian‑born forward took a calm touch and placed the ball beyond the Leicester keeper, giving Ipswich a 2‑1 lead.
Five minutes later, Leicester equalised once more when a corner from Page was flicked on by De Cordova‑Reid and Aluko, with a delicate touch, nudged the ball past the line for his maiden professional goal. Nunez’s influence grew as the match progressed. After Woyo Coulibaly’s careless clearance, Nunez capitalised, striking the ball against the post before finding the net on the rebound. Later, after Chuba Akpom missed a one‑on‑one opportunity, the Chilean international seized the moment, scoring his second of the night.
The climax came when, after a routine clearance, the ball dropped inside the centre circle. Nunez, spotting Stolarczyk off his line, executed an extraordinary lob that sailed over the goalkeeper, sealing a 3‑1 triumph for Ipswich. Post‑match, Ipswich manager Gary O'Neil praised Nunez’s performance, stating, "I didn’t think it was the best decision to be honest! Neither did Chuba or Sindre who were clean through on goal, but as long as you can put it in the goal no one can argue, so good decision in the end!
The last two performances Marcelino has been excellent. Two great goals, unbelievable energy that he has, never stops and unbelievably humble kid that works and works. You need them in your group and two big moments of quality to add to that which changed the game for us.
He is in a good spot and need to keep him going. We need to keep him going for the weekend and it is now a big push to get everyone going on Sunday (at Manchester United)." Leicester’s manager Russell Martin reflected on his side’s effort, saying, "The players were amazing and I loved it. I loved the performance. We were unlucky to lose and definitely unlucky to lose 3‑1, but after Saturday we spoke a lot about bravery, aggression and intensity.
With and without the ball they showed so much. The only thing missing is we didn't win but if we play like that, it is really exciting for us.
We'll have a lot of fun and win a lot of games. It is so early and that is why I feel really calm about it. The fans were amazing as well. Hopefully they felt a bit of energy after that performance." The match also featured several noteworthy moments beyond the goals.
Ipswich’s defensive resilience was evident in the way Walton and Stolarczyk handled the occasional Leicester surge. Meanwhile, Leicester’s young talent Aluko announced himself on the senior stage, while Egeli’s composure under pressure hinted at a promising future.
The game’s narrative was further enriched by the tactical adjustments made by both managers, with O'Neil’s substitutions paying dividends and Martin’s attempts to restore confidence after a tough weekend. Overall, the fixture offered a thrilling blend of skill, drama, and unexpected brilliance. Nunez’s half‑field lob will be remembered as one of the standout goals of the cup competition, and Ipswich’s progression to the next round underscores the club’s growing ambition. As the Carabao Cup continues, both teams will look to build on the lessons learned: Ipswich aiming to sustain their attacking momentum, and Leicester seeking to translate their intensity into more favourable results in upcoming league fixtures.