Hull City 2-2 Ipswich Town: Enciso stunner salvages point after Tigers fightback

Julio Enciso’s thunderous left-footed strike from 20 yards salvaged a point for Ipswich Town in an entertaining Premier League draw at Hull City, denying the hosts a first win since August.

The Paraguayan attacking midfielder rifled the ball into the top corner with 16 minutes remaining to restore parity after Hull had staged a stirring second-half fightback at the MKM Stadium.

Ipswich dominated the opening period and deservedly led through Florentino Luís’ powerful near-post finish in the 22nd minute. Abdoul Ouattara drove forward and slipped the ball inside for the Portuguese midfielder to hammer high into the roof of the net past Konstantinos Tzolakis.

The visitors thought they had doubled their advantage later in the half when Enciso headed home from a corner, only for the effort to be ruled out for a foul on Oli McBurnie in the build-up.

Hull were a different proposition after the interval. A change of shape at the break injected urgency, and they levelled just before the hour mark. McBurnie found Tim Iroegbunam with a fine pass, and the midfielder raced clear of a static Ipswich defence before composing himself and lashing past Christian Walton for his first Premier League goal.

Ten minutes later the Tigers were in front. McBurnie stepped up to a free-kick and drove the ball through the wall into the bottom right corner, completing a rapid turnaround and sending the home crowd into raptures.

The lead lasted only six minutes. Enciso picked up the ball, danced past a couple of challenges and unleashed a stunning effort that flew beyond Tzolakis to make it 2-2.

Both sides pushed for a winner in a breathless closing period, but neither could find a decisive third goal. Hull remain unbeaten at home this season yet have now gone seven league games without victory. Ipswich, who controlled large spells of the contest, will feel they should have taken more from a game they largely dominated until the hosts’ second-half surge.

The point leaves both promoted sides level on points in the top half of the table after an absorbing first top-flight meeting between the clubs.