Alun Armstrong, out for three weeks with a virus, ensured that mighty Internazionale caught a cold last night as Ipswich's fairytale return to Europe continues to astound. It was one of the Suffolk club's finest wins in their history.
The Premiership's next-to-bottom side more than matched the team who are second top of Serie A, Armstrong sealing a magically passionate evening with a late header from Jamie Clapham's cross.
The win extended Ipswich's unbeaten home run in Europe to 28 games and they go to the San Siro in a fortnight with every chance of pulling off another shock given their away wins in their earlier ties.
The absence through injury of Marcus Stewart, their main striker, plus Finidi George and Ulrich le Pen, handy outlets on the wing, was a blow. Jim Magilton also failed a fitness test.
But the loss which has hit Ipswich most in recent weeks is the loss of confidence. The Tractor Boys have not ploughed a winning furrow in the league for 11 games, a run that culminated in Saturday's home defeat to Bolton.
Their plan was clearly to go at the Italian aristocrats from the kick-off, giving Inter a healthy dose of respect but not too much.
Ipswich pressed forward from the whistle and Titus Bramble found himself in a scoring position after only five minutes but he directed Mark Venus's curling free-kick wide from five yards out.
Four minutes later a simple ball from Javier Zanetti sliced open the Ipswich defence and found Nicola Ventola free, only for him to be stopped by Matteo Sereni's brave block at the post. Hermann Hreidarsson's saving tackle thwarted Mohamed Kallon's follow-up.
Ipswich rallied and just before the break Pablo Counago set up Matt Holland for a rasping 20-yard shot which Francesco Toldo was happy to punch away.
In the second half the home team showed they were up for it, disciplined, spirited and confident enough to show off some of their better passing moves.
IPSWICH: Sereni, Makin, Bramble, Hreidarsson, Venus, Wright, Holland, Peralta (Reuser 88), Clapham (Gaardsoe 90), Counago, Naylor (Armstrong 77). Subs Not Used: Branagan, Wilnis, McGreal, Bent. Goals: Armstrong 81.
INTER MILAN: Toldo, Javier Zanetti, Cordoba, Di Biagio (Georgatos 76), Gresko, Seedorf, Cristiano Zanetti, Emre (Sergio Conceicao 67), Farinos, Kallon, Ventola (Adriano 56). Subs Not Used: Fontana, Guglielminpietro, Materazzi, Okan. Booked: Farinos, Di Biagio, Cristiano Zanetti.
Referee: Kim Nielsen (Denmark).
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