Sky Bet Championship

The town of Ipswich 3 (Rodon and 7′, Broadhead 45′, Chaplin 90′)

Leeds United 4 (Rutter 10′, Gnonto 14′, Piroe 19′, Sinisterra 75′)

Ipswich: Hladky (GK), Clarke (Williams 73′), Davis, Morsy (C), Woolfenden, Burns (Harness 84′), Chaplin, Burgess, Jackson (Ladapo 73′), Luongo (Taylor 84′), Broadhead (Hutchinson 73′). Unused submarines: Slicker (GK), Edmundson, Evans, Ball.

Leeds: Meslier (GK), Ayling (C) (Cresswell 90′), Ampadu, Piroe (Gyabi 90′) Rodon, Struijk, Gray, Sinisterra (Gelhardt 85′), Rutter, Byram (Drameh 25′ (Shackleton 45′)) , Gnonto. Unused submarines: Darlow (GK), Summerville, Greenwood, Hjelde.

Place: Portman Road

Presence: 29,606 (2,008 away)

Arbitrator:Bobby Madley

Reserve: Morsy, Luongo, Woolfenden (Ipswich) Shackleton, Meslier, Ayling (Leeds)

Leeds United traveled away from home on Saturday afternoon to take on early Sky Bet Championship leaders Ipswich Town in a thrilling end-to-end encounter.

Prior to the game, Kieran McKenna’s Blues had won three out of three in the league, while backing that up with a Carabao Cup victory to show off an impressive start to the season following their promotion from Ligue 1.

Daniel Farke’s side were looking to claim their first league victory of the campaign. Two draws came either side of a pre-trip loss to Suffolk, but Los Blancos had tasted a Cup win against Shrewsbury Town at home.

The first news from the team saw the debut of new signing Joel Piroe. The prolific striker at this level signed a permanent deal with Swansea City earlier in the week and had an instant chance to impress as he started the game.

The new striker was joined in attack by recalled duo Luis Sinisterra and Willy Gnonto, who also secured a place in the starting XI at Portman Road.

In a crowded stadium and an electric atmosphere in all areas, it was the local team who took the lead from the start of the match. Kayden Jackson broke free on the left and, despite numerous offside calls, play continued. He cut inside and drilled a low ball through the box, which Joe Rodon had the misfortune to turn into his own goal.

Leeds fought back quickly and in style. Georginio Rutter made a magnificent solo run after recovering Luke Ayling’s chipped pass, before twisting and turning anyone looking to stop him, then sliding the ball into the back of the net from the post.

In a frantic opener in East Anglia, Los Blancos would then go on to score a second. Sam Byram worked into space on the left wing and crossed superbly to the far post, where Gnonto slid his marker home.

Five minutes later, Piroe was in action and scored the third! A lot had to be down to Sinisterra’s hard work in the preparation as he worked in space and shot on goal, seeing his effort entrusted to the debutant to shoot from close range.

More opportunities would arise from both sides, with each team favoring the attack throughout. Leeds were forced to change thanks to an element of defense as Byram fell awkwardly when he blocked a shot and had to be replaced by Drameh.

In the last part of the extra six minutes, the home side reduced the deficit before the break. Jackson was the creator of the Tractor Boys again, picking up a loose pass before returning the ball to Nathan Broadhead who struck from the edge of the box.

A thrilling 45 minutes then ended with a Leeds goal against their league-leading opponents.

HALF-TIME: Ipswich Town 2-3 Leeds United

Farke made another change at the interval. Coming on midway through the first half, Drameh was replaced by Jamie Shackleton for the second.

The first opening after the restart lasted about 15 minutes and was worked well by the home team. After scoring just before half-time, it was Broadhead who created the chance himself, before seeing Rodon intervene to block it.

From the resulting corner the ball was sent to Harry Clarke just outside the box and it curled just wide, before Piroe rushed to the other end and forced a good save from Vaclav Hladky .

The same combination would then face off again with 20 minutes to go. Sinisterra brought Piroe into the box and he struck well with a left foot, only to see the Ipswich keeper pull off another excellent save.

15 minutes from the end, Leeds find their way back to the nets! Shackleton’s fine preparation found Sinistera in space and the winger did the rest, clipping his right foot before producing an excellent finish to make it four!

With their invincibility to protect, the hosts kept going and Illan Meslier still had some work to do. Both fresh off the bench, Jack Taylor and Omari Hutchinson delivered powerful shots, from which the keeper pushed them each away from goal.

In the dying seconds of added time, Conor Chaplin struck low from the edge of the box and found the bottom corner to bring the home side within one point.

However, time was running out and Farke’s men were able to hold on, earning the important and fully deserved first three points of the season.

FULL-TIME: Ipswich Town 3-4 Leeds United