Everton 2-2 Ipswich Town: Enciso leads visitors´ spirited fightback

Ipswich Town produced a spirited fightback to hold Everton to a 2-2 draw in the penultimate Premier League game at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Everton’s fans put on a show prior to kick-off, and were rewarded by seeing David Moyes’ side go 2-0 up inside 36 minutes.

After spurning a series of half-chances early on, Beto broke the deadlock with a guided header into the bottom corner before Dwight McNeil doubled the lead with a swerving strike from about 20 yards out.

But McNeil’s effort was topped by a brilliant long-range goal from Julio Enciso, who starred as the Tractor Boys – whose relegation was confirmed last weekend – fought to get themselves back in the game.

The second half saw little in the way of goalmouth action compared to the first, though Enciso carried on his lively performance.

Having been relatively untroubled after the break, the Toffees soon saw their lead slip from their grasp when substitute George Hirst nodded home at the back post in the 79th minute to draw level.

The draw keeps Ipswich in 18th place, a point off similarly-relegated side Leicester City, while Everton sit 14th with just three matches remaining.

It ends level.#EVEIPS pic.twitter.com/hgJoZFj6t0

— Ipswich Town (@IpswichTown) May 3, 2025

Data debrief: Toffees stall continues while Ipswich fight back

Saturday’s draw means Everton have now won just one of their last ten Premier League matches (D6 L3), a sharp dip after winning four of their first five under Moyes (D1).

Still, they started brightly, with Beto’s opener marking their 1600th Premier League goal, making them just the seventh team to reach that milestone in the competition.

Despite racing into a two-goal lead, Everton ended the match with an expected goals (xG) value of just 0.57, narrowly edged out by Ipswich’s 0.81 xG.

Remarkably, it was the first time Ipswich have come from two goals down to earn a Premier League result since October 2001, when they drew 3-3 with Southampton.