Darren Ambrose was a two-goal hero on his first team Portman Road debut as the Blues ran out 2-1 winners against Spanish side Celta Vigo. The Blues dominated the first half but failed to score before McCarthy for Celta and Ambrose for Town found the net in the second period.
Town lined-up with Ambrose on the left of midfield, Finidi George was on the right while Matt Holland and Jim Magilton were in the centre. The defence saw John McGreal partner Hermann Hreidarsson in the middle, with Fabian Wilnis and Jamie Clapham the full-backs and Andy Marshall in goal. Up front, it was a double Marcus pairing of Messrs Bent and Stewart.
Town were unfortunate not to have gone ahead in the very first minute when Marcus Bent ran on to a ball over the top and was in the clear. The striker looked certain to score but managed to screw his effort wide of keeper Cavallero's post.
The Spanish side's first effort, on three, saw Marshall save an edge of the area shot from Jandro.
Injuries were to play a big part in the first half with Hermann Hreidarsson the first player to receive the attentions of David Williams. The Icelander had been on the wrong end of a studs-up challenge from Mostovoi with whom the central defender was less than impressed. However, after treatment Hreidarsson was able to carry on.
Less lucky was Finidi George who was replaced by Darren Bent on 23. The Nigerian had gone down after heading away a corner on 17 when Marcus Bent appeared to inadvertently catch him high on the thigh. He carried on for a bit but eventually succumbed to the knock.
While George was on the ground after Bent's ‘tackle', Darren Ambrose went on a mazy run before hitting a poor shot wide.
Town were having the better of it and Darren Bent came close to breaking the deadlock on 27 when his header from a Clapham freekick went just wide. A minute later Bent was again close to scoring when Marcus Stewart latched on to a bad backpass and played the ball into the youngster's path. Last season's reserve top scorer ought to have done better than his shot straight at the keeper.
Jim Magilton made Cavallero work some more on 34 when, after excellent work from Ambrose down the left, he hit a shot which the keeper could only bundle away for a corner.
There was more injury woe for Town on 39 when John McGreal appeared to get caught by the flailing arm of Celta striker Catanha. McGreal received treatment for several minutes before being replaced with Justin Miller, his first appearance in the Town first team.
Just before the break Marcus Stewart came as close to giving the Blues the lead as at any time previously when his shot across the face of the goal beat the keeper but came off the foot of the post.
The Spaniards made ten changes at half-time, defender Sergio the only man remaining on the field. The changes seemed to improve them and on 54 they were ahead. Sebastian Mendez found himself in space on the Celta left with no one covering the over-lapping Fabian Wilnis. The Celta player put over a well-struck low cross and Benni McCarthy walloped it into the roof of the net.
Chances were few and far between after this although Darren Bent and sub Pablo Couñago both had shots from the edge of the area blocked. In the 69th minute though they were back on terms. A freekick from the left was cleared to the edge of the box. Jim Magilton hit a shot which was deflected twice before it reached Darren Ambrose on the left of the area who slipped the ball past the keeper by his near post.
Celta's last real chance, aside from some speculative efforts well into the South Stand, was a shot from Benni McCarthy which Andy Marshall put over the bar. Given that McCarthy's snapshot had been from only around eight yards out it was a particularly impressive effort from the keeper.
With the time ticking down Town snatched a winner with the move of the match. Pablo Couñago, playing against his old club, slipped a ball down the right for Darren Bent who crossed excellently to Darren Ambrose at the far post who buried it past Pinto in the Celta goal.
Not long afterwards the whistle went on a fine Town performance. The Blues were unlucky to go in on terms at the break after creating a number of good chances and then did well to fight back from a goal behind. Ambrose will win many of the plaudits, and rightly so, but all over the park players did well, Holland and Magilton back to their old selves while Stewart looked sharp and Hreidarsson solid. All in all, as fine a way to go into the opening game of the season as we could have hoped for.
Marshall, Wilnis, Clapham, McGreal (J Miller 39), Hreidarsson, Magilton, George (D Bent 23), Holland, Stewart (Couñago 57), M Bent (Armstrong 57), Ambrose.