Jack Clarke returned to haunt his former club, scoring in the 90th minute to give Ipswich Town a 2-1 win over Sunderland in their Premier League opener.
The match at Portman Road was an entertaining affair, and it seemed destined to end level after Nilson Angulo’s fine free kick cancelled out Emersonn’s opener for the hosts. But in the 90th minute, Clarke, who left Sunderland for Ipswich in 2024, punished a poor pass from Omar Alderete and curled into the far corner.
That dramatic strike allowed Ipswich to emulate fellow newly promoted side Hull City, who stunned Manchester United 2-0.
At the City Ground, Oliver Glasner made a disappointing start as Nottingham Forest manager, losing 1-0 at home to Leeds United. Anton Stach was the difference for Daniel Farke’s men, the German whipping beyond Matz Sels two minutes from the end of normal time after a rash foul by Nikola Milenkovic. Milenkovic had hit the post earlier, and Igor Jesus came close with two headers, but Forest could not prevent Leeds from claiming their first win at the City Ground since 1972.
Glasner’s former club, Crystal Palace, also began life under new boss Pierre Sage with defeat, falling 2-0 to Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Kieran Dewsbury-Hall put the Toffees ahead three minutes before half time with an effort that arrowed past Dean Henderson, and Thierno Barry doubled the lead eight minutes into the second half, heading home from an excellent Iliman Ndiaye cross.
Everton won their opening match of the campaign for the first time in five years, while Palace’s painful afternoon was compounded by the absence of Ismaila Sarr, left out of the squad amid speculation over a move to Galatasaray, and an injury to Chadi Riad.
The opening weekend of the Premier League season has already produced its share of drama, with promoted teams making a statement and several established clubs facing early questions.