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A decade and a half of disappointment have finally been laid to rest for the home side. An unwanted streak that had lingered for longer than most abandoned burial grounds was banished in conclusive fashion as East Anglian rivals the visitors were beaten 3-1 and generally outplayed in the home side’s first win in 15 derbies.

Match-Winning Goals and Pivotal Displays

Scores from Cédric Kipré – the standout performer – the mercurial Jaden Philogene and Jack Clarke were the decisive moments of the match, with Norwich’s kamikaze attacking also contributing. But the figure of Marcelino Núñez, who scored against Ipswich for the Canaries in the last derby match two years ago then finalized a £10m move to Ipswich in the summer, loomed throughout. Featuring on the cover of the matchday program and in the chants of the home fans, even as he began the match on the bench, this was a high-profile signing that ultimately delivered the desired effect.

Game Summary and Key Incidents

After a energetic atmosphere in and around the stadium before the match, the first thirty minutes was as disjointed as chip paper. But Ipswich took the lead in the 32nd minute with a well-worked dead-ball situation. The delivery came from Philogene: a looping cross that found Dara O’Shea at the back post. O’Shea nodded the ball down to the penalty spot and, after a brief melee, it came to Cédric Kipré who took a touch and slammed the ball into the goal.

This was what the Ipswich supporters had been waiting for and the team looked well placed to push forward, but Norwich fought their way back into the game. A series of turnovers by the visitors ended with one reaching Crnac who burst behind Leif Davis to win a set-piece. Kellen Fisher’s delivery was directed at Harry Darling at the far post, but was cleared out to Oscar Schwartau who fired a driven effort straight back at goal and, via a minor deflection, past a helpless Palmer.

Norwich were elated and Ipswich’s fans became a little volatile. This was a script they had seen many times before, while the home side’s performance was increasing worries over a uneven beginning to the season following demotion. But one consistent aspect during the early fixtures has been the goalscoring form of Philogene, and he was about to score again.

Philogene’s Spectacular Strike

The away team were passing neatly in the midfield with the time having just reached to 45 minutes when Schwartau’s fellow Dane, the midfielder Pelle Mattsson, unaccountably let the ball roll between his feet and through to a lurking Ipswich No 11. From there the attacker acted quickly. He ran straight on goal and, after a couple of controls, let fly a powerful shot from 25 yards that brushed the top of Kovacevic's fingers but flew into the upper net of the net. His reaction – a na-na-na-na-na with his fingers in his ears – may need refinement.

After the Break Action

At half-time the Ipswich legend Jim Magilton came on to the pitch to encourage the fans to keep believing, and pledged that the opponent's advanced backline would create more opportunities. Soon enough he was proven right. The home side were increasingly able to spin attackers into the gap offered up by Norwich’s pushing defenders. Hirst should have scored from a similar chance soon after the restart, but fluffed his shot when one on one with Kovacevic. Given with a identical situation of an opportunity on the 60-minute mark the forward opted against shooting at all and passed the ball into no one.

Marcelino's Impact and Jack's Decisive Goal

With a quarter-hour to go both teams made a series of changes but attention were on a particular player. Marcelino Núñez emerged on to the field to a chorus of loud singing and soon after he had made the decisive contribution the narrative had forewarned. Norwich were trying to push into some offensive play, but a forward burst from Harry Darling ended in a poor touch and Jens Cajuste robbed the player before rolling the ball immediately to Núñez. The Chilean needed just an moment to assess the play and lofted a ball over that defensive line into his fellow substitute Iván Azón on the left hand side. His low effort went past the goalkeeper and on to a post, but Jack Clarke (another sub) was on handy to turn the loose ball home coolly.

Final Moments and Celebrations

The last 15 minutes were a battering for the visitors but there was no further embarrassment to be suffered. Not during active play. At the full-time whistle, as the stadium erupted, the midfielder was afforded his own lap of honor of the stadium, followed by the lenses. Holding the team banner and displaying a sign of a social media post from a opposing fan demanding a Núñez statue at Carrow Road, the player appeared to be having the time of his life.