Liam Delap scored and set up a goal as Ipswich stunned visitors Chelsea to secure their third league victory of the season in a 2-0 victory at Portman Road, as Enzo Maresca’s side failed to move second of the table.
Liam Delap broke the deadline inside 12 minutes, scoring his seventh league goal of the season, when he was brought down in the box by Blues goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen and powered his spot-kick into the bottom left corner.
Chelsea thought they’d levelled the fixture after 24 minutes when Cole Palmer found Joao Felix deep into the box and fired into the roof of the net – only to see VAR disallow the goal for offside.
Kieran McKenna’s side doubled their lead just after half-time when a mistake at the back was pounced upon by Delap, who darted into Chelsea’s box before finding Omari Hutchinson, who shot raised the volume at Portman Road by several decibels.
Enzo Maresca’s men missed out on a chance to move second in the Premier League, finishing the year sitting in fourth. Whilst Ipswich move within a point of survival at the bottom of the table.
Next up, Chelsea travel to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace on Saturday, January 4, 2025, whilst Ipswich are in action against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday, January 5.
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“We created a lot of chances,” Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella told Sky Sports. “We conceded two easy goals and then we had to play a different game. We have to continue, we’ve played a lot of games and can take some positive things.
“People asked what we expected these first few months and no one expected this level. But we need to continue this way. We’ve done well so far this season, we need to continue to work hard and try to undo these small mistakes.”
On Ipswich’s first goal: “We conceded the early goal and we had to play more with passing and then the second one we lost our way a bit with mistakes. We need to play always in the same style and take our time but we rushed and made mistakes.
“We need to play with the same intensity and desire. Sometimes we rush and rush to win but I think we have done well this first six months. Maybe we have been better than people expected apart from the last two games.”
“We’ve worked so hard this season and it’s not gone right,” Ipswich goalscorer Liam Delap told Sky Sports. “The performances have deserved a win and today we showed we are excellent and we defended well, attacked them well. We’re buzzing.
“We’ve had three or four opportunities where we’ve not had the penalty we probably deserved so nice to get that one and put it in the back of the net. I’ve practiced them a million times so just aimed for the corner and put it there.
“I don’t think it changes much. We’ve performed as well as that in other games this season but not got the result. Not finished our chances or conceded late. We just need to push on now and get more victories.”
Whilst a win against Chelsea at Portman Road might have sounded like a long shot for the majority, a performance of the ages from Tractor Boys denied Chelsea hope to keeping Liverpool in touching distance.
Two defeats in two games for Enzo Maresca’s side sees Chelsea finish the year in fourth with a ten point gap on leaders Liverpool.
Chelsea lacked in the final third and became reliant on individual efforts as the game went on. Despite multiple changes to the starting eleven, has the festive period caught up with the men in blue?
For Ipswich, their third win of the campaign keeps their survival hopes alive. Keeping Wolves within a point, Ipswich now have two wins in their last four – are things finally changing?
Making the most of their chances and pouncing on errors, Ipswich Town held strong during Chelsea’s push for a goal and come away with their first win over the Blues since 1993.
