Angry Fans Boo Chelsea After 2-2 Draw Against Ipswich
Chelsea’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League were dented with the Blues held to a 2-2 draw against Ipswich at Stamford Bridge.
Despite Chelsea’s early dominance, it was Ipswich who took the lead when on-loan Brighton midfielder Julio Enciso poked home Ben Johnson’s cross to score his first goal for the club.
Enciso turned provider for Ipswich’s second, chipping a brilliant ball to the back post for Johnson to head in his first goal of the season and give the visitors a two-goal lead at the break.
An Axel Tuanzebe own goal 20 seconds into the second half reduced the deficit, but Chelsea had to wait until ten minutes from time to find an equaliser when substitute Jadon Sancho curled a wonderful effort into the top corner from a short-corner routine.
Trevor Chalobah and Pedro Neto both went close for Chelsea but the draw leaves the Blues in fifth, three points behind third-placed Nottingham Forest and ahead of sixth-placed Aston Villa on goal difference.
Ipswich are 14 points adrift from safety following Wolves’ win against Tottenham at Molineux.
Jeers rang out around Stamford Bridge as Enzo Maresca opted to take Noni Madueke off for Sancho in the second half.
The reaction may well have been more to do with the removal of Madueke, who was causing trouble down Ipswich’s left, than it was to do with Sancho’s introduction.
But the on-loan Manchester United winger hasn’t exactly hit it off with Chelsea supporters since his move.
Two assists against Legia Warsaw in a 3-0 win on Thursday helped but Sancho has yet to show the type of form that will convince Chelsea to trigger a £25m clause in his loan deal to sign him permanently.
Sancho’s ability has never been in doubt, but speaking earlier this month Maresca said the winger could “do more” to improve his numbers, particularly in terms of goals.
The former Dortmund winger answered Maresca’s call with a sumptuous equaliser to score his third Premier League goal of the campaign.
Collecting a short corner from Cole Palmer, Sancho was afforded too much time on the edge of the box and curled a wonderful effort into Alex Palmer’s top left-hand corner.
Moments earlier, Sancho stood up former team-mate Tuanzebe and fizzed a brilliant ball across Ipswich’s six-yard box that Conor Townsend cleared as Enzo Fernandez looked certain to score.
It was precisely the type of all-action cameo that supporters – and Maresca – haven’t seen enough from Sancho since his move to west London.