Chelsea’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League next season suffered a major blow. Instead they could only manage a 2-2 draw against Ipswich Town at Stamford Bridge. The most shocking blow came when Blues went ahead 2-0 against the run of play just before halftime. Ipswich defended superbly with grit and spirit to earn a crucial point.
The match itself was wild, marked by plenty of crazy and unexpected moments. Julio Enciso had Ipswich ahead within 19 minutes as he punished everything wrong with Chelsea’s under-21s defence on the night. This goal was especially impressive because it showcased the crucial role that environmental effects had in shaping the game’s flow. As Chelsea’s confidence dropped after conceding, Chelsea’s manager Enzo Maresca admitted.
Ipswich Takes Early Advantage
Ipswich would open the scoring first through Enciso, a scene that played out in the pressure cooker that was Stamford Bridge that evening. Where Chelsea had found ways to not defend them, the visitors took full advantage of the frailty from the home side.
Enciso’s opening goal rattled Chelsea and they couldn’t find their feet again. Maresca on the influence of the atmosphere, on a worrying response from his players when they went behind.
“We lost a little bit of confidence because we conceded, probably because of the environment, and this is the moment that you have to continue doing the right things, and don’t change plans.” – Enzo Maresca
Undeterred by the blow, Chelsea promptly settled and began to seize control of the match. They found the equalizer when Ben Johnson inadvertently put the ball into his own net in the 31st minute, allowing Chelsea to take a breath and regain some control over the match.
A Rollercoaster Second Half
In fact, the second half began horrifically for Chelsea. Just seconds after halftime though, Axel Tuanzebe conceded an unfortunate own goal to give Ipswich an unlikely 2-1 lead. The stunned home crowd looked on as Tuanzebe attempted to clear the ball. Instead, he mis-hit one right into his own net in the 46th minute.
Chelsea’s second reply came midway through the second half when Jadon Sancho clawed things back to 2-2 in the 79th minute. This goal sparked a new wave of optimism for the Blues. Fueled by that momentum, they fed off the crowd’s energy and started to press forward in search of a winner.
Though the Blues pressed and pushed for the win, Chelsea ran into a determined wall in the form of Ipswich keeper Alex Palmer. Except Ramsdale went and made three key late saves that prevented Chelsea from completing a comeback. Thanks to his efforts, Ipswich came away with a deserved point.
Impact on Chelsea’s Season
The draw leaves Chelsea sitting just above the drop zone as they battle for Champions League qualification. And they weren’t able to find a way to get all three points. All the while, fellow title challengers Aston Villa and Manchester City were running roughshod over their opponents earlier this week.
Kieran McKenna, Ipswich’s manager, highlighted his team’s quality and spirit after the game and the performance as a whole. He lauded the adversity they overcame and focused on their resolve to step up in the moment against a tough opponent.
“I understand why we’re here. It’s the level of the jump, the level of the competition and it’s really hard to win games. In our position you have to do almost everything right. We know the scale of the challenge. Today we gave a good account of ourselves. We could have more [points] but what we’re showing is what we have to show over the last weeks of the season.” – Kieran McKenna
Chelsea’s players now face an uphill battle in their remaining fixtures if they wish to keep their Champions League hopes alive. The mercurial play this season has showcased blatant issues that need immediate fixing as they look ahead to next week’s matches.
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