Ipswich vs Chelsea Report

Scorers: Delap 12’ (P), Hutchinson 53’

Ipswich Town finally broke their home Premier League (PL) duck this season with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over a struggling Chelsea side, who now find themselves in a perilous position in the title race after a disappointing festive period.

First Half: Early Penalty Sets Ipswich on Their Way

The Tractor Boys started brightly, showcasing their intent from the outset. Nathan Broadhead had an early effort blocked by Tosin Adarabioyo, but Ipswich wouldn’t have to wait long to take the lead.

In the 12th minute, Filip Jörgensen clumsily brought down Liam Delap in the box, allowing Ipswich’s leading scorer to confidently convert the resulting penalty.

Delap nearly doubled his tally minutes later, unleashing a powerful strike that forced Jörgensen into a smart save.

Chelsea eventually found their rhythm and started creating opportunities of their own. Cole Palmer struck the upright with a curling free-kick, and João Félix thought he had equalised, only for his goal to be chalked off after a lengthy VAR check for offside.

The Blues piled on the pressure as the half wore on. Moisés Caicedo blasted over from the edge of the area, and Christian Walton produced a stunning save to tip Palmer’s first-time effort onto the crossbar. Despite their dominance, Chelsea went into the break trailing.

Second Half: Ipswich Capitalise on Chelsea’s Mistakes

Chelsea resumed their onslaught after the interval but were left frustrated as Ipswich’s defensive resilience kept them at bay. Felix’s tame header was cleared off the line by Wes Burns, and moments later, the home side delivered a sucker punch.

Axel Disasi’s careless pass was intercepted by Delap, who surged forward before unselfishly setting up Omari Hutchinson. The former Chelsea man coolly slotted home, doubling Ipswich’s lead against the run of play.

Despite dominating possession, the visitors struggled to create clear-cut chances, with Ipswich’s backline standing firm to secure a vital victory.

What This Means

• Chelsea: A second loss in three matches leaves Enzo Maresca’s side fourth in the PL table, now 10 points adrift of leaders Liverpool, with doubts about their title credentials growing.
• Ipswich Town: Kieran McKenna’s side finally secured their first home league win of the season, cutting the gap to safety to just one point.

Next Fixtures

• Ipswich Town: Face Brighton & Hove Albion in another crucial clash as they battle to climb out of the relegation zone.
• Chelsea: Travel to Tottenham Hotspur, looking to revive their form and keep their fading title hopes alive.

With Ipswich showing resilience and Chelsea’s title challenge faltering, this result could mark a turning point in both teams’ seasons as the second half of the campaign unfolds.

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Ipswich v Chelsea, 2024/25 | Premier League