Town lose 2-1 to Osasuna in pre season friendly at Colchester United’s stadium

A wonder strike by Raul Moro deep into the second half secured a 2-1 victory for Spain’s La Liga outfit Osasuna in a pre season friendly against Ipswich Town at Colchester’s JobServe Community Stadium, last night (Wednesday, July 29).

The visitors took the lead in the first period through Miguel Auria but substitute Chuba Akpom’s acrobatic stretch to connect with a searching long upfield pass by skipper Dara O’Shea in the second period levelled the scores.

However, up stepped Osasuna’s substitute Moro in the 83rd minute to secure the victory for the Spaniards with a half volley that drew gasps from the  4,681 crowd .

Town had already played two pre season games behind closed doors against Southend and Cambridge then over the weekend they drew 0-0 in Spain against third tier side FC Cartagena with O’Shea being shown a red card.

But they came up against more sterner opposition in the shape of the La Liga side.

Abdul Fatawu was prominent for Ipswich before being one of a raft of substitutes in the second half and now Town face another pre season challenge in six days time when they face French side Le Havre at Portman Road on Tuesday, August 4. 

Town won a free kick in the opening two minutes when new signing from Leicester, Fatawu, was fouled on the right wing.

Marcelina Nunez floated in a curling effort but it was narrowly missed at the far past by attacking full back Harry Clarke.

But the visitors took the lead two minutes later when Auria netted a rebound from just inside the six yard box after Alex Palmer initially dived full length to palm away a goal bound effort from Raul Garcia.

Fatawu was causing untold problems for the Spanish team’s defence and in the 17th minute Osasuna’s midfielder Iker Muneoz was shown a yellow card by referee Bobby Madley. And that was promptly followed moments later by O’Shea also being shown yellow for shirt pulling Kike Barja.

Palmer had to be alert as the half hour mark approached as he first dived to initially deny Jon Moncayola and then a similar save from Garcia.

Then another dancing run down the right by Fatawu saw him beat his full back Iker Benito and his shot across the goal went narrowly wide of the far post.

Ipswich made a couple of substitutions at half time bringing on Wes Burns and Akpom with Fatuwu and a non effectual Emersonn, signed by French club Toulouse, both being withdrawn.

And Akpom was close to bringing the scores level after 49 minutes. He got on the end of a low ball into the box from Jack Clarke but Osasuna’s goalkeeper Sergio Herrera’s save prevented the striker from finding the back of the net.

But the lively striker did get on the scoresheet five minutes later when he stretched to reach a sumptuous pass from inside the Ipswich half by O’Shea to divert the ball past Herrera.

The second half hydration break signalled another round of substitutions for both teams as Ipswich introduced a totally changed team with Dutch goalkeeper Kayne Van Oevelen along with Cedric Kipre, Kasey McAteer, Chieo Ogbene, Sindre Walle Egeli, Ben Johnson, Darnell Furlong, Finlay Barbrook and Cordin Mthunzi coming onto the pitch.

George Hirst came on for the final 15 minutes to replace Akpom but the visitors went ahead in the 83rd minute through Moro who struck a brilliant half volley beyond Van Oevelen.