Marcelino Nunez delivered a breathtaking strike from the halfway line, a moment that proved decisive as Ipswich secured a gritty 3-1 triumph over Leicester in the Carabao Cup. The two clubs had met in the Premier League just over a year earlier, but this encounter took place under very different circumstances.
Leicester arrived at Portman Road still reeling from a humbling defeat to Burton Albion in League One, while manager Russell Martin, under intense scrutiny, watched his side limp through a goalless first half. The deadlock was finally broken in the 62nd minute when Sindre Walle Egeli, a loanee from the Premier League, displayed composure beyond his years.
He received a precise left‑footed pass and tucked the ball away, giving Gary O'Neil's Ipswich side the lead. The joy was short‑lived, however, as 19‑year‑old Olabade Aluko responded five minutes later, nudging a corner from Bobby De Cordova‑Reid onto the post and tapping in to level the score for Leicester.
The match turned into a personal duel between two former Norwich City players when ex‑Canary midfielder Nunez stepped up. After a near‑miss that saw his shot rebound off the post in the 71st minute, he found the net for the first time at Portman Road since his summer transfer. The goal was a catalyst, and Nunez went on to produce an even more spectacular effort in stoppage time.
Picking up the ball inside his own half, he noticed Leicester goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk rushing off his line, and with a perfectly weighted lob he sent the ball soaring over the keeper, sealing a 50‑yard masterpiece that sent the home crowd into raptures and guaranteed Ipswich a place in the third round of the Carabao Cup – only the second time in eleven seasons. Leicester’s early moments were fraught with tension. Martin, still smarting from the Burton loss, was booed by his own supporters as his side almost gifted Ipswich an opening goal within the first half‑minute, only for Chuba Akpom to miss the chance.
The Foxes quickly recovered, with Brighton loanee Tom Watson forcing a wide effort before testing Ipswich keeper Christian Walton with a curling strike. Meanwhile, Ipswich’s backup goalkeeper Walton made a crucial intervention, denying Christian McFarlane’s attempted chip after a well‑timed pass from Louis Page. Across the pitch, Jakub Stolarczyk produced a fine save from a header by Dara O'Shea, keeping Leicester in the game.
The second half began with Ipswich midfielder Kasey McAteer seeing a goal ruled out for off‑side, a setback that was quickly offset when Conor Chaplin’s curler was saved by Walton. Shortly after the restart, Akpom’s forward pass found Jack Clarke, whose cross was met by Egeli, who calmly slotted the ball home to restore Ipswich’s lead. Leicester’s equaliser came after a well‑delivered corner from Page was flicked on by De Cordova‑Reid, allowing the young Aluko to brush the ball home for his first professional goal. Yet Nunez was not finished.
After Woyo Coulibaly’s careless giveaway, Nunez capitalised, firing home via the post to make it 3-1. When Akpom later squandered a one‑on‑one opportunity, the Chilean international seized the moment again, this time with a dazzling lob from the centre circle that left Stolarczyk stranded and the ball nestling in the net.
After the final whistle, Ipswich manager Gary O'Neil praised Nunez’s impact, saying, "I didn’t think it was the best decision, to be honest. Neither did Chuba nor Sindre, who were clean through on goal, but as long as you can put it in the net, no one can argue – good decision in the end! The last two performances from Marcelino have been excellent. Two great goals, unbelievable energy, never stops, and an incredibly humble kid who works tirelessly.
You need players like that in your squad, and those big moments of quality changed the game for us. He’s in a good spot; we need to keep him going, especially with the weekend match at Manchester United coming up." Leicester boss Russell Martin reflected on his side’s effort, stating, "The players were amazing and I loved the performance. We were unlucky to lose, especially 3-1, but after Saturday we talked a lot about bravery, aggression and intensity.
With and without the ball they showed so much. The only thing missing is the win, but if we play like that it’s exciting for us. We’ll have a lot of fun and win many games.
It’s still early, so I feel calm about it. The fans were fantastic as well; hopefully they felt a bit of energy after that performance." The match also featured several ancillary moments that added to the atmosphere. Ipswich’s backup keeper Walton thwarted a chip from McFarlane, while Stolarczyk’s save from O'Shea’s header kept Leicester in contention. Both managers highlighted the need for resilience and highlighted the significance of the victory for Ipswich’s cup ambitions.
The game, broadcast on Sky Sports, also included promotional prompts encouraging viewers to watch Premier League highlights and explore the Sky Sports app. Overall, Nunez’s extraordinary goals and the collective effort of both teams provided a memorable night of football, underscoring the unpredictable magic of cup competitions.