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Southampton finally ended their torrid run of form with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over relegation rivals Ipswich Town at Portman Road, securing their first Premier League win under Ivan Juric, Soccernet.football reports.
Super Eagles stars Joe Aribo and Paul Onuachu were the heroes for the Saints, with Aribo opening the scoring before Onuachu struck late to secure a vital three points.
The win ensures Southampton avoid the ignominy of a seventh consecutive league defeat, which would have been a first in the club’s history, but they remain eight points adrift of safety.
Ipswich started brightly, dominating possession in the early stages.
Julio Enciso was a constant threat, forcing three efforts on goal within the first 18 minutes. However, despite their early dominance, Kieran McKenna’s men were caught off guard when Southampton struck against the run of play.
Aribo broke the deadlock in the 21st minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse.
The Nigerian midfielder unleashed a shot that Ipswich goalkeeper Arijanet Muric should have handled comfortably, but the Kosovan let the ball slip through his grasp. The goal is Aribo’s third of the season in 23 league appearances.
Ipswich responded well, and their persistence paid off when Liam Delap equalized in the second half. The young forward showed great composure, skipping past Jan Bednarek before finishing confidently to bring the hosts back into the contest.
With the game finely poised, Southampton needed a moment of inspiration—and it came through Onuachu. The towering striker reacted quickest to a rebound after Kamaldeen Sulemana’s low shot was parried by Muric, expertly slotting home to send the travelling Saints fans into raptures.
Since arriving at St Mary’s, Ivan Juric has placed significant faith in Aribo and Onuachu, and both repaid that trust with match-winning contributions.
For Aribo, this performance continues his resurgence after struggling for consistency since his standout 2021/22 season with Rangers, where he helped them reach the UEFA Europa League final.
For Southampton, this long-awaited victory provides a glimmer of hope in their fight against relegation. The challenge now is to build on this result and string together a run of positive performances before it’s too late.
