Match report: Ipswich Town 2-2 Arsenal U-21s

2 - 2

WHAT HAPPENED

We completed yet another remarkable comeback to reach the last-16 of the Papa John's Trophy on Wednesday night.

After a cagey opening to the first half, the home side took the lead through Kaydon Jackson, his strike beating Daniel Ejeheri low at the near post.

We came close to an immediate equaliser, Joel Lopez latching on to the end of a Charlie Patino cross, but our defender's header could only find the top of the bar.

Ipswich doubled their lead shortly before the break, Jackson scoring his second after a well-worked team move found him unmarked in the box to poke beyond Ejeheri.

We started the second half on the front foot and came close to pulling one back through Folarin Balogun, with Omari Hutchinson finding our captain with an accurate through ball, but his shot was straight at Vaclav Hladky.

Balogun missed another big chance moments later, Lopez linking up with Zak Swanson whose cross found our striker unmarked, but he failed to fully connect and his effort went wide.

We pulled one goal back after Salah Eddine Oulad M'Hand's in-swinging corner was turned into his own net by Kane Vincent-Young at close range.

Balogun drew us level minutes later, finishing well inside the box after some good work from Hutchinson.

Our defence stayed strong to withstand some mounting pressure from the hosts as the game went to a penalty shootout.

Balogun and Salah-Eddine scored our first two penalties to match Ipswich's effort, before Ejeheri saved well from Bersant Celina to put us ahead.

Omar Rekik had his penalty saved, but Joe Piggott's spot-kick hit the post, allowing Mika Biereth to restore our lead.

Hutchinson then scored the decisive penalty for us, calmly slotting past Hladky and securing our 4-3 win in the shoot-out.

WHAT IT MEANS

We progress through to the Papa John’s Trophy last-16, where we could face one of Cambridge United, Charlton Athletic, Chelsea U-21s, MK Dons, Sutton United, Colchester United, Exeter or Portsmouth.