Chelsea were forced to settle for a frustrating 2–2 draw at Stamford Bridge after mounting a spirited comeback against a resilient Ipswich Town side, Softfootball reports. Despite recording 33 shots and dominating possession, Enzo Maresca’s team needed a late Jadon Sancho equaliser to avoid a damaging home defeat.
Ipswich, newly promoted but fearless, stunned the Bridge with two quick, well-crafted first-half goals. Their opener on 19 minutes came from a slick transition down the right, where Ben Johnson surged forward and delivered a sharp low pass for Julio Enciso, who finished clinically from close range. Chelsea, unsettled and uncharacteristically passive out of possession, struggled to dictate the early tempo.
Just 12 minutes later, the away side doubled their lead. Johnson again played a crucial role, combining with Enciso before driving into space and firing confidently past Robert Sánchez. A VAR review confirmed the defender had timed his run perfectly, leaving Chelsea with a mountain to climb before half-time.
Despite their dominance in territory and shots, Chelsea lacked incision in the final third in the first period. Palmer and Madueke saw chances saved, while Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer — booked for time-wasting — repeatedly frustrated the hosts with assured handling and brave positioning.
Maresca, visibly agitated on the touchline, made adjustments during the interval, bringing on Malo Gusto and urging greater aggression down the flanks. Within seconds of the restart, Chelsea were handed a lifeline. A driven cross from Pedro Neto caused chaos inside the box, and Ipswich defender Axel Tuanzebe inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net to make it 1–2.
With momentum suddenly swinging, Chelsea applied relentless pressure. Ipswich were forced deeper, relying on late blocks, narrow defensive lines, and Palmer’s reflexes to stay ahead. Cole Palmer, who had picked up a yellow for dissent, probed constantly between the lines but struggled to find a clear route through the compact visiting defence.
As Ipswich introduced fresh legs and attempted to disrupt Chelsea’s rhythm, Maresca turned to Jadon Sancho. The decision proved decisive. Sancho’s movement and composure immediately improved Chelsea’s attacking patterns, and in the 79th minute he delivered the moment the home crowd had been begging for. Collecting a sharp cut-back from Cole Palmer, he calmly stroked the ball into the far corner to level the match at 2–2.
Chelsea pushed aggressively for a winner, with Jackson — who was later booked — unable to convert late half-chances before being replaced by Christopher Nkunku. Ipswich, despite being under siege, held firm through seven minutes of added time, clearing a flurry of corners and clinging to a point that felt like a victory for Kieran McKenna’s men.
For Chelsea, the draw will feel like two points lost, especially considering their overwhelming superiority in possession and chances. But the resilience shown in the second half, as well as Sancho’s growing influence, will provide reassurance as the league run-in intensifies.
Stamford Bridge, however, left with a lingering sense of what might have been — a dominant performance without the finishing edge required to turn control into victory.
