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Ipswich Town secured a stunning 2-0 victory over Chelsea at Portman Road, handing the Blues their second consecutive defeat under Enzo Maresca. Liam Delap was the star of the show, scoring from the penalty spot and assisting Omari Hutchinson for the second goal.
The win marked Ipswich’s first home Premier League victory of the season, with Delap and Hutchinson, both born after Ipswich’s last home Premier League win in 2002, making history. The 8,286-day wait for a home Premier League win finally came to an end.
Chelsea’s title bid suffered a significant setback, with the team now 10 points behind league leaders Liverpool, who also have a game in hand. The Blues’ defeat was marred by a controversial penalty decision, which saw Delap score from 12 yards after Filip Jorgensen was deemed to have fouled him.
Despite dominating possession, Chelsea struggled to create clear scoring opportunities. Cole Palmer’s free kick crashed off the post in the 17th minute, and Christopher Nkunku’s rebound effort was saved by Christian Walton. Felix then thought he had equalized in the 24th minute, but his goal was disallowed after a two-minute VAR check.
Chelsea’s frustration continued in the second half, with Axel Disasi’s woeful pass gifting Hutchinson the chance to double Ipswich’s lead. Delap sent Hutchinson racing through, and a smart pass to the former Chelsea winger was followed by a delightful strike into the bottom corner.
Nicolas Jackson’s blushes were spared as a late offside flag excused his one-on-one miss. Chelsea’s lack of creativity has been a concern, with the team struggling to find sources of inspiration. Cole Palmer’s influence has waned, and Enzo Maresca needs to find a solution to reignite his team’s title bid.
Chelsea’s inability to break down a stubborn defense has been a recurring issue, with Everton and Fulham also employing similar tactics to frustrate the Blues. The defeat raises questions about Chelsea’s title aspirations, and Maresca will need to find a way to revitalize his team’s attacking prowess.
