Chelsea 2 Ipswich 2: Sancho scores stunner to earn draw but first-half horror show deals blow to Champions League hopes
JADON SANCHO’S week ended on a high with the goal that spared Chelsea a major embarrassment.
The winger was credited with two assists in Thursday’s Conference League win at Legia Warsaw and in his next game Sancho got on the scoresheet for the first time since December.
His stunning curled shot was a high note on a disappointing day for The Blues as they had to come from 2-0 down just to earn a point against a team hurtling towards relegation.
On-loan Julio Enciso and Ben Johnson put the visitors ahead and Chelsea were booed off at half time.
An own goal by Axel Tuanzebe and Sancho’s sizzler rescued a draw and moved Enzo Maresca’s side up into fifth spot and back into the Champions League places – but the boss will be far from pleased.
Although Ipswich keeper Alex Palmer made two brilliant stops in second half in jury time among eight saves, Chelsea were below par again and are making a return to Europe’s big time hard work following last weekend’s goalless stalemate at Brentford.
Sancho will be personally pleased given recent question marks over his contribution on loan from Manchester United but as a team, Maresca’s mob is coming up short in many departments.
The game was supposed to be a chance for Ipswich’s 12-goal striker Liam Delap to audition for a job with Chelsea next season as speculation continues that he will be joining The Blues in the summer for £30 million.
Injury during training restricted him to the bench but in a way it made Maresca’s need for a striker even more apparent as they wasted a series of chances to take the lead.
And more so when Championship-bound Town took both of their first half opportunities to race into a two goal lead that shook Stamford Bridge.
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It’s not just up front where Chelsea looked suspect either.
Town right back Ben Johnson beat Blues left back Marc Cucurella for pace down the wing then squared for Julio Enciso to squeeze in between Levi Colwill and Tosin Adarabioyo to poke the ball in from barely two yards out.
And the duo paired up again when Enciso floated a superb back post cross for Johnson to head in unmarked.
Nicolas Jackson did hit the woodwork for Chelsea but winger Noni Madueke also scuffed at a clear opportunity to score and Maresca’s side was generally in a muddle for the first half – to the extent that they were soundly booed off at the break.
The noise must have rung in the players’ ears because they emerged for the second half transformed.
Within 20 seconds of the restart they pulled a goal back when Madueke crossed low and Town defender Axel Tuanzebe was forced into scoring an own goal under pressure.
Pedro Neto whistled a shot just over the bar and Conor Townsend did well to block from Chelsea skipper Enzo Fernandez.
Just as the momentum seemed to be slipping from Chelsea’s game, Sancho pulled an equaliser out of the bag with a classy curling shot from the left hand corner of the Ipswich box to bury a shot into the opposite top corner.
Town keeper Alex Palmer then produced two stunning saves – one from namesake Cole and another from Blues skipper Enzo Fernandez to save a point for his team, even though it will do them little good ahead of their impending relegation.