Pablo Counago struck twice to earn Ipswich Town a 2-2 draw with Swansea City at Portman Road.
Spaniard hits late equaliser to deny Swans away win
Pablo Counago struck twice to earn Ipswich Town a 2-2 draw with Swansea City at Portman Road.
The Spanish striker had given Ipswich a half-time lead with a 43rd minute goal, only for Ferrie Bodde to equalise early in the second half.
Jordi Gomez put the Swans in front on 69 minutes, before Counago came to Town's rescue with an equaliser eight minutes from time.
Swansea beat high-flying Wolves before the international break and after a slow start again played some excellent football to push Jim Magilton's side back.
Swans winger Leon Britton had the first sight of goal in the second minute but he dragged a low shot into the side-netting after Marcos Painter picked him out at the near post.
Ipswich's on-loan full-back Moritz Volz then drilled a left-footed shot from the edge of the box that was tipped around the post by Dorus de Vries as Magilton's side pushed forward.
Counago should have given the hosts the lead in the ninth minute. Alan Quinn's corner was headed back into the danger zone by Gareth McAuley and Counago nipped in front of Ashley Williams but headed over from six yards.
Fine passing move
Swansea striker Gomez then saw a volley blocked by Richard Naylor after a fine passing move before the Spaniard forced Richard Wright into action.
Britton fed Darren Pratley and his pull-back found Gomez in the middle of the area but his left-footed strike was turned around the post by Wright.
It was a top save from the former England goalkeeper, which became more important when Counago opened the scoring in the 43rd minute.
Ivan Campo chipped the ball into his path and Counago swivelled brilliantly to volley across De Vries from the corner of the six-yard box.
Roberto Martinez's side came out all guns blazing after the break and took only four minutes to level.
Angel Rangel overlapped down the right and his low cross found Bodde 12 yards out and he thumped a shot underneath Wright.
It was a cool finish from the midfielder, who went close again from 20 yards shortly afterwards.
Magilton then made a double change on the hour mark with Tommy Miller and Owen Garvan coming on, and seconds later Counago missed another great chance.
Costly miss
Miller picked out David Wright on the left with his first touch and the former Wigan full-back skipped over a challenge before drilling a cross to the near post.
Counago again showed great movement to get ahead of his marker and flick a header across De Vries, but it flew just wide.
And it was to prove a costly miss as the impressive Gomez grabbed a 69th-minute goal.
He combined with Ashley Williams down the right and after cutting inside McAuley, bent a beautiful left-footed finish past Wright from the edge of the area.
Counago then grabbed his second from a Miller corner. Swansea cleared his first ball into the area but when the former Sunderland man crossed for a second time, Counago was free at the back post to smash a volley into the back of the net.
