Ipswich Town wrapped up their pre-season games with a 1-0 victory against French club Nice at Portman Road. Axel Tuanzebe scored the winning goal in the 58th minute, securing the win for the Blues as they gear up for their Premier League opener against Liverpool next Saturday.
Nice, who will be competing in the Europa League this season, missed a penalty towards the end of the first half and had a shot cleared off the line early in the second half. Despite these chances, Ipswich remained solid defensively and capitalized on a dead ball situation to secure the victory.
The Blues faced a shortage of attacking players due to injuries to George Hirst and Nathan Broadhead, prompting manager Kieran McKenna to implement a 3-4-2-1 formation for the match. The team started brightly, with Liam Delap leading the charge upfront and Aro Muric showcasing confidence with his ball distribution from the back.
Nice displayed some promising moments on the ball, but were unable to break through Ipswich’s defense. They had a prime opportunity to take the lead with a penalty in the first half, but Mohamed-Ali Cho’s spot-kick hit the post and denied them the advantage.
Ipswich stepped up their game in the second half, with Tuanzebe finding the back of the net from a corner to secure the win. McKenna made several changes to the team midway through the second half, reverting to a 4-2-3-1 formation and introducing new players to the mix.
Despite some late efforts from Nice to equalize, Ipswich held firm defensively and clinched a hard-earned victory. The match was followed by a training session where midfielder Steven Alzate featured on trial after being released by Brighton.
Overall, Ipswich Town’s victory over Nice serves as a confidence booster as they head into the new Premier League season. The team showcased resilience and adaptability, key qualities that will be essential for their upcoming challenges in the league. With the pre-season campaign now concluded, all eyes are on Ipswich as they prepare to face Liverpool in their season opener.