Hull City fought back from behind only to be pegged back themselves in a 2-2 draw with Ipswich Town at the MKM Stadium, as Oli McBurnie scored one and made another in a breathless second half.
For 45 minutes, this had the feel of a game Ipswich would win comfortably. Florentino Luis gave the visitors the lead on 22 minutes, set up by Ouattara, and Hull — despite the backing of a crowd of 24,459 — could not find a response before the break. Exequiel Palacios was booked for Ipswich in a first half they controlled.
The full timeline is recorded in the Sky Sports match centre, and it shows a second half that completely changed the story of the afternoon.
McBurnie Turns the Game
Hull emerged transformed. On 58 minutes Tim Iroegbunam levelled, turning in a McBurnie assist, and ten minutes later the MKM erupted as McBurnie himself scored to put the Tigers 2-1 ahead, with Mohamed Belloumi providing the pass.
McBurnie now has a goal and an assist in a game Hull had looked like losing, continuing the form that made him the hero of their promotion last season. The statistics in theScore's match centre show how tight the margins were: this was a low-chance match in which four goals still flew in.
Enciso Has the Last Word
Ipswich, to their credit, refused to accept defeat. Just six minutes after falling behind, Julio Enciso struck on 74 minutes to make it 2-2 and silence the home crowd. Neither side could find a winner in a frantic finale, and a point apiece was, on balance, the fairest outcome.
The closing stages swung from end to end. Hull poured forward in search of a second comeback goal in a week, with the home crowd sensing another famous MKM afternoon, while Ipswich — who had looked so comfortable at 1-0 — suddenly found themselves defending crosses and second balls they had dealt with easily in the first half. That transformation, from control to chaos in twenty minutes, is the story of Ipswich's season in miniature, and it is why this draw will sting them more than it stings Hull.
Enciso has made a habit of decisive contributions for Ipswich this season, having also scored in their draw with Nottingham Forest last week.
So What Does It Mean?
Both clubs move on to 11 points, and both will feel this was two points dropped as much as one gained. Hull's home form remains their lifeline — the comeback spirit at the MKM, also seen in their draw with Brentford last weekend, is keeping them competitive in their first season back in the top flight.
For Ipswich, the pattern is familiar: ahead away from home, unable to close the game out. Enciso's quality keeps rescuing points, but a promotion-winning side that wants to establish itself at this level has to learn to defend a lead for longer than six minutes.
Beyond the Final Whistle verdict: A draw that entertained everyone and satisfied no one. McBurnie remains Hull's talisman, Enciso remains Ipswich's get-out-of-jail card — and both teams remain locked together in the thick of the survival fight.
Which of these two promoted sides is better equipped to stay up this season? Let us know what you think in the comment section.
