Ipswich vs Chelsea Review
Ipswich secured a 2-0 victory against Chelsea, their first Premier League victory of the season at Portman Road, ending a streak of four draws and five losses. Ipswich started strong, with Broadhead’s shot being blocked by Adarabioyo, but they quickly took the lead in the 12th minute. Filip Jörgensen made a mistake by fouling Liam Delap in the penalty area, allowing Delap, the team’s leading scorer, to convert the penalty kick for his first goal in seven games. Delap nearly scored again shortly after with a powerful shot, but Jörgensen made a solid save to keep the score at 1-0 as the momentum shifted.
In pursuit of the game, Chelsea created multiple opportunities in the first half, with Cole Palmer hitting the post from a free-kick before finding João Félix at the back post for what seemed like an equalizer. However, after a lengthy VAR review, Félix’s well-placed shot was predictably disallowed for offside. As the half neared its end, Moisés Caicedo fired a shot over the bar, just before Christian Walton, in his second Premier League match, made a remarkable save to deflect Palmer’s shot onto the crossbar.
Chelsea resumed the second half with the same intensity, but after Wes Burns cleared Félix’s weak header, Ipswich unexpectedly increased their lead. Another mistake from Chelsea, this time a careless pass from Axel Disasi, was intercepted by Delap, who advanced towards goal and set up Omari Hutchinson to score against his former team. Facing the possibility of their second away league defeat in 13 matches, the visitors maintained possession but were unable to find a way past Ipswich’s solid defense.
Following a devastating late loss to Fulham on Boxing Day, another defeat here raises valid concerns for Enzo Maresca regarding a title challenge. The disappointing holiday season has left the Blues in fourth place in the Premier League, trailing league leaders Liverpool by 10 points and having played one more game. Meanwhile, Ipswich’s second victory in seven Premier League matches isn’t sufficient to move Kieran McKenna’s team out of the relegation zone, but it does narrow the gap to safety to just one point as they head into the second half of the season.
