Chris Kiwomya snatched a dramatic equaliser in the dying seconds at Portman Road after Liverpool's Dean Saunders became a target for angry Ipswich fans. Saunders was awarded a penalty by Bristol referee Bob Hamer in the 70th minute which Jan Molby blasted home to give Liverpool a 2-1 lead.
Molby instigated the move which led up to the penalty, releasing Saunders with a precision through-pass. Phil Whelan knocked the ball away from Saunders with his toe and the Welsh international toppled over the defender's outstretched leg.
Saunders, who had been firing blanks all match, was jeered every time he touched the ball after that and was substituted seven minutes later to roars of "cheat, cheat" from the crowd. They even failed to forgive Hamer after Kiwomya's late equaliser and the official received a police escort as he left the pitch with his linesmen.
Kiwomya should have wrapped up the points for Ipswich by half-time. Three times he was clear of the Liverpool defence but on each occasion failed to get the ball past David James. Instead, Liverpool snatched a surprise 39th minute lead when Saunders robbed John Wark and put Ian Rush in for a shot parried by Craig Forrest. Whelan tried to clear but the ball rebounded in off Mark Walters.
Jason Dozzell headed a 56th minute equaliser from a Neil Thompson cross after Paul Goddard had missed a chance two minutes earlier.
Walters was guilty of a similar miss at the other end after having been sent clear by Saunders - then came the controversial penalty incident.
But justice was done for Ipswich when Whelan tried his luck with a last-minute snap shot which glanced off Kiwomya past James.
Hamer stood by his penalty decision: "It was a trip and I was happy with my decision." Forrest said: "From where I was it looked an exceptional tackle - but maybe it looked like a penalty from the referee's angle."
Team manager Mick McGiven said: "The referee gave the decision as he saw it - I don't think he is going to cheat anyone. No-one's perfect but I'd much rather discuss the game than the penalty. It was an entertaining match full of chances. I thought we did the town of Ipswich proud tonight. Anyone who thinks we are beaten in the 89th minute can't be aware of our players' committment," added McGiven.
Even Anfield boss Graeme Souness was forced to admit that the decision by Bristol official Hamer to penalise Whelan's challenge was lucky. He said: "If it had been given against us I would not have been happy."
Copyright - British Soccer Week