Clarke's 90th-minute curler rescues Ipswich on Gary O'Neil's competitive debut

Jack Clarke settled a tense Premier League opener with a 90th-minute curler as Ipswich Town beat Sunderland 2-1 at Portman Road on the first day of the 2025-26 season, delivering Gary O’Neil a winning start in his first competitive fixture since replacing Kieran McKenna in June.

The goal came from nothing — Sunderland substitute Omar Alderete gave the ball away on the stroke of full time, and Clarke, himself just introduced from the bench, punished his former club by curling into the bottom corner to send Portman Road into pandemonium. It was only Ipswich’s second Premier League home win in 24 years.

The match had looked destined for a draw after a lively first half featuring six full debutants for the hosts. Emersonn opened the scoring in the 24th minute, finishing off a move that showcased everything O’Neil would have hoped to see from summer signing Julio Enciso. The ex-Brighton forward, who spent six months on loan at Ipswich last season, intercepted Luke O’Nien’s pass, dribbled past two defenders, and squared for Emersonn to slide home.

Sunderland hit back before half-time when Granit Xhaka won a free kick on the edge of the area and Nilson Angulo produced a magnificent effort over the wall and in off the crossbar in the 39th minute, cancelling out Ipswich’s lead with a moment of genuine quality.

Ipswich returned after the break with renewed purpose. Abdul Fatawu twice threatened to restore the lead — a cross in the 50th minute was fractionally too high for Daizen Maeda, and a second delivery was flicked inches wide by Enciso. Enciso continued to torment the Sunderland defence with another mazy run, but Emersonn could not find Maeda from the resulting cross.

Debutant goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen had his own moments to navigate, including a shaky early spell on the ball and a fine save to deny Noah Sadiki’s header, but he held firm as the game entered its final stages.

Both managers made changes in search of a winner, and it was Clarke who provided the decisive moment — punishing Alderete’s error to complete a dramatic turnaround and give Ipswich the perfect start to life back in the top flight under their new manager.

Sunderland, who finished seventh in their own return to the Premier League last season, were left to reflect on a costly late lapse that denied them a point on the road.