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Sixteen years of disappointment have finally been laid to rest for the home side. A curse that had persisted for more than most abandoned burial grounds was broken in decisive fashion as East Anglian rivals Norwich City were beaten 3-1 and thoroughly outplayed in the hosts' first triumph in 15 derbies.

Match-Winning Strikes and Pivotal Displays

Goals from Kipré – the man of the match – the skillful Philogene and Clarke were the key turning points of the match, with Norwich’s kamikaze attacking also contributing. But the figure of Marcelino Núñez, who scored against Ipswich for Norwich in the last derby match two seasons ago then finalized a multi-million pound transfer to Suffolk in the summer, was felt all match. Featuring on the cover of the programme and in the chants of the Ipswich support, even as he started the game on the substitutes' bench, this was a transfer troll that ultimately achieved the intended outcome.

Game Overview and Key Moments

After a peppy mood in and around the ground before the match, the opening half hour was as disjointed as yesterday's news. But the hosts took the advantage in the 32nd minute with a well-worked set piece. The delivery came from Jaden Philogene: a deep outswinger that found O'Shea at the far post. The defender nodded the ball down to the center of the box and, after something of a scramble, it came to Cédric Kipré who controlled it and slammed the ball into the goal.

This was what the home crowd had been waiting for and the team looked well placed to kick on, but the visitors scrapped their way back into the match. A series of lost possessions by the visitors ended with one finding Ante Crnac who sprinted behind Leif Davis to win a corner. Fisher's delivery was aimed at Harry Darling at the back post, but was cleared out to Oscar Schwartau who fired a low shot straight back at the target and, via a slight touch, past a stranded Alex Palmer.

Norwich were euphoric and the home supporters became a little volatile. This was a script they had witnessed many times before, while the home side’s showing was amplifying worries over a uneven beginning to the season following demotion. But one consistent aspect during the opening rounds has been the prolific streak of Philogene, and he was set to score again.

Jaden's Stunning Goal

The away team were passing neatly in the centre of the park with the time having just ticked to the stroke of halftime when Schwartau’s countryman, the midfielder Pelle Mattsson, unaccountably let the ball pass between his legs and through to a waiting Ipswich No 11. From there the attacker wasted no time. He advanced straight on goal and, after a couple of controls, unleashed a rising drive from 25 yards that brushed the top of Kovacevic's hand but burst into the upper net of the net. His reaction – a taunting chant with his fingers in his ears – may require some work.

Second Half Action

At the interval the club icon Jim Magilton came on to the pitch to encourage the fans to stick the course, and pledged that Norwich’s high defensive line would create more chances. Before long he was proven right. The home side were increasingly able to send runners into the gap offered up by their rivals' pushing defenders. Hirst should have scored from a similar chance soon after the resumption, but mishit his shot when facing with Kovacevic. Given with a identical situation of an opportunity on the 60-minute mark Hirst chose not to shoot at all and crossed the ball into empty space.

Núñez’s Influence and Jack's Clincher

With a quarter-hour to go each side made a series of changes but attention were on a particular player. Núñez emerged on to the field to a chorus of raucous chanting and soon after he had made the decisive contribution the narrative had anticipated. Norwich were attempting to push into some attacking activity, but a forward burst from Darling ended in a bad control and Jens Cajuste stole the player before rolling the ball immediately to the Chilean. Núñez needed just an instant to assess the play and lofted a ball over that high line into his teammate Iván Azón on the left hand side. His driven shot went past the goalkeeper and on to a post, but Jack Clarke (another sub) was on handy to tap the rebound home calmly.

Final Minutes and Celebrations

The final quarter-hour were a battering for the visitors but there was no further embarrassment to be endured. At least not in open play. At the full-time whistle, as the stadium exploded, the midfielder was afforded his own victory lap of the stadium, followed by the lenses. Stroking the team banner and carrying a sign of a tweet from a Norwich influencer calling for a Núñez statue at Norwich's ground, the midfielder appeared to be having the moment of his career.