Raul Jimenez scored an extra-time penalty to earn Fulham a 2-2 draw and keep Ipswich out of the relegation zone after referee Darren Bond awarded three spot-kicks in the second half.
Liam Delap put Ipswich back in front with a 71st-minute penalty of his own which was awarded just 21 seconds after Jimenez equalized from 12 yards for the first time after Sammie Szmodics opened for the visitors.
Referee Bond was at the center of a dramatic afternoon at Craven Cottage, only showing Ipswich left-back Leif Davis a yellow card for his foul on Harry Wilson, who attempted a goal-kick in the first half. VAR considered that the defender did not deny the opportunity to score a goal.
“It's hard to understand why it wasn't a red card,” Fulham coach Marko Silva said. “It was a clean penalty – one of the biggest this season.”
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Raul Jimenez scores his THIRD penalty of the match and brings Fulham level
The visitors then took the lead shortly before half-time when Nathan Broadhead's cross from the left was headed over the crossbar by Ben Johnson. Calvin Bassey cut straight to Szmodics and he fired a cross into Fulham's cross.
Fulham dominated the first period, but Jimenez only hit the target with his head. Marco Silva brought on Emile Smith Rowe at half-time and glanced a header.
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Liam Delap takes the penalty to put Ipswich back in front
Their pressure paid off when Wilson was tripped by Sam Morsy, but Bond waved away appeals for the penalty. VAR intervened and overturned the decision, and Jimenez managed to equalize. However, Ipswich responded immediately with a sharp Delap penalty which was fouled by Timothy Castagne.
There was more drama. Ipswich pushed for a third with Jack Clarke hitting the left post. Fulham fought back and Jimenez was tripped by Davis in the box for his third penalty of the afternoon which he fired into the top right corner.
Ipswich remain in the bottom three on goal difference, while Fulham remain ninth, four points behind sixth-placed Manchester City.
McKenna: The referee did a good job – they were all penalties
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Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna played down a frustrated figure after his side conceded two penalties in their 2-2 draw with Fulham.
Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna told Sky Sports:
“When you lead twice, you always feel a little bit disappointed that you didn't win. I'm so proud of the way we played. We had a couple of chances to get two goals up, but we couldn't take them.
“The referee refereed well and it wasn't easy to be honest because the crowd was quite early in the game.
“It wasn't an easy game to referee and there were a lot of incidents and, to my eye, I didn't watch them all, I thought they were all penalties.”
Silva: We must be ruthless to achieve the European dream
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Fulham manager Marco Silva refused to comment on Ipswich's Leif Davis only receiving a yellow card for potentially denying Harry Wilson a goal-scoring opportunity.
Fulham boss Marco Silva told Sky Sports:
“It was an excellent performance by Raul Jimenez. He showed character and composure.
“I have a lot of positive things from the game. In some moments we cannot admit as we have done, and we are punished for some mistakes.
“Everyone can talk about European hopes. I prefer our team to talk on the pitch. If you want to fight, you have to be much more ruthless and aggressive.”