Chelsea stumble again in Champions League hunt with 2 2 draw against Ipswich Town

LONDON – Relegation-bound Ipswich Town held Chelsea to a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge on April 13, leaving the hosts looking over their shoulders in their push for a lucrative spot in next season’s Champions League.

The visitors stunned Enzo Maresca’s men, who had won their previous five home Premier League games, when they raced into a 2-0 lead in the first half.

Despite being pinned in their half for the early stages, Ipswich’s Paraguayan striker Julio Enciso nipped in between Chelsea’s defenders to steer home a cross by right-back Ben Johnson in the 19th minute.

Twelve minutes later, Enciso repaid the favour, crossing for Johnson to head home and Chelsea struggled to revive their momentum, prompting loud boos from the home fans at the half-time whistle.

An own goal by Axel Tuanzebe immediately after the break gave Chelsea hope and substitute Jadon Sancho curled a shot into the top corner in the 79th minute, setting up a frantic finale when both sides came close to snatching a winner.

Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer saved a Trevoh Chalobah effort at point-blank range in the 85th minute, before denying Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer in added time.

Said Chelsea manager Maresca: “We started well and created chances. They scored the first goal and it completely changed the dynamic of the game. For 20-25 minutes, we were not good enough and conceded two goals.

“Then in the second-half we were back in the game. It’s tough because even in the first 20 minutes, at this stage of the season, if you are not able to score the first one then the game completely changes...

“I think we lost confidence because we conceded because of the environment. Our goalkeeper plays short and then he goes long for the second goal because of the environment.”