Kieran McKenna hailed a “brilliant moment” from Azor Matusiwa after his stunning strike secured Ipswich Town F.C. a 1-0 win over Hull City A.F.C. at Portman Road.
Town were made to work hard by a disciplined and deep-lying Hull side, but the breakthrough arrived in the 71st minute when Matusiwa rifled a rising effort into the top corner from the edge of the area — his first goal for the club — sending the home crowd into raptures.
The victory marked Ipswich’s third in a row, lifting them to third in the table, three points clear of Hull in fifth and within touching distance of second-placed Middlesbrough, with a game in hand.
McKenna was full of praise for the Dutch midfielder, describing the goal as a defining moment. He said it was the type of decisive contribution teams need across a long season, adding that such moments are often remembered if a campaign ends successfully.
He also commended Matusiwa’s influence off the pitch, highlighting his professionalism, leadership growth and character since joining from Rennes last summer. McKenna described him as a standard-setter in training and a strong presence within the dressing room.
Assessing the match overall, McKenna admitted it was a frustrating contest against well-organised opposition who defended deep and slowed the tempo whenever possible. He felt Ipswich lacked sustained pressure and clear-cut chances in the first half but stressed the importance of staying solid defensively against Hull’s counter-attacking threat.
The second half, he believed, showed improvement as Ipswich moved the ball more quickly and built momentum before the decisive goal arrived. While he acknowledged his side did not manage the closing stages with complete composure, he viewed it as a valuable lesson.
McKenna concluded that while the performance was not flawless, grinding out wins in tight, tense encounters at this stage of the season is crucial — and he was pleased to see his side come through on the right side of the result.
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