Everton 2-2 Ipswich: Tractor Boys come from two goals down to claim a point thanks to Julio Enciso's stunning strike and George Hirst's late header
- Beto opened the scoring after 26 minutes before Dwight McNeil's strike
- Enciso struck from long-range before the break and Hirst completed comeback
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Ipswich showed there will be life after Liam Delap as they battled back from 2-0 down with a late equaliser from substitute George Hirst.
On the final Saturday fixture at Goodison Park, things looked favourable for Everton who received a ticker-tape welcome and proceeded to score excellent goals inside the first 35 minutes from Beto and Dwight McNeil.
But relegated Ipswich threw themselves a lifeline through Julio Enciso’s 30-yard cracker and, after star man Delap had been taken off, his replacement Hirst nodded in at the far post with only 11 minutes left.
With Delap expected to be sold this summer after impressing bigger clubs this campaign, it will be to the likes of Hirst that Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna turn in order to bounce back immediately as Burnley have done.
‘I’m delighted for George,’ said McKenna. ‘We missed him this season when he’s been unavailable (to injury).
'He’s deserved to play more but Liam’s form has been so good.
Ipswich fought back from 2-0 down to earn a draw against Everton at Goodison Park
George Hirst replaced Liam Delap and completed the comeback with 11 minutes left
Beto’s excellent header had broken the deadlock after 26 minutes of Saturday's clash
‘George has a great chance of going on. He was gangly as a younger player.
'At 26 he’s doing it in the Premier League and will keep developing.’
After making an early impression to secure Everton’s Premier League status, David Moyes has seen his side win only once in their last 10 games and once the final home farewell against Southampton takes place, all eyes will be on a team rebuild at their new stadium.
‘I thought we controlled most of the game,’ said Moyes.
‘Beto has been doing really well and I think there are positives in how we are playing. We just made some terrible decisions for their second goal.’
Beto seemed particularly fired up by the atmosphere and had three good attempts before opening the scoring after 26 minutes.
Carlos Alcaraz whipped in a brilliant cross from the left and as Ipswich defenders Luke Woolfenden and Cameron Burgess left it to each other, the striker got between them to power a header.
Delap became public enemy No1 after a shoving match with Joey O’Brien earned both men a booking and he then flattened Jarrad Branthwaite with what referee Lewis Smith deemed a natural coming together.
Dwight McNeil struck with the outside of his left boot in his first start of 2025
Julio Enciso rifled a shot into the top corner from well outside the box for his third Ipswich goal
After a bright start under David Moyes, Everton have won just one in their last 10
McNeil, starting his first match of 2025 following a knee injury, extended the lead with a brilliant shot from 20 yards with the outside of his left boot that left goalkeeper Alex Palmer rooted to the spot.
However, the half-time team talks were altered when Enciso, on loan from Brighton, cut inside Idrissa Gueye and rifled into the top corner to get Ipswich in the scoreboard.
McKenna made a triple change midway through the second half while Moyes sent on Dominic Calvert-Lewin after his latest lay-off.
It was the visitor’s who benefitted. Omari Hutchinson was allowed to burst down the right and when his cross deflected up off Gueye’s outstretched boot it fell nicely for Hirst to nod in.
