Ipswich United secured a remarkable 2-0 victory over Chelsea in their Premier League clash at Portman Road.
In the thrilling matchup, Liam Delap’s remarkable goal-scoring performance propelled Ipswich to their first home victory of the season.
This defeat significantly dampened Chelsea’s title ambitions as they struggled to capitalize on their possession.
Delap opened the scoring with a well-earned penalty in the 12th minute, showcasing his confidence and skill.
Moments after halftime, he assisted former Chelsea winger Omari Hutchinson, doubling Ipswich’s lead just eight minutes into the second half.
Despite Chelsea’s dominance in possession, they proved wasteful in front of goal.
The video assistant referee (VAR) controversially disallowed Joao Felix’s potential equalizer after a lengthy offside review.
The decision further frustrated Chelsea as they sought to regain momentum.
Earlier in the match, Delap won the penalty after VAR confirmed “sufficient contact” from goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen.
Delap cleverly dribbled past Jorgensen, then got brought down, earning himself a chance to score.
Following his penalty, Delap seized an opportunity created by Axel Disasi’s poor back pass.
He swiftly set up Hutchinson for a clinical finish, securing a comfortable 2-0 lead for Ipswich and putting Chelsea on the back foot.
With this important victory, Ipswich climbed above Leicester City into 18th place, now just one point behind Wolves.
They are eager to escape the relegation zone, and this win serves as a significant boost in morale for the team.
Meanwhile, Chelsea faced their second consecutive defeat.
After a disappointing goalless draw at Everton, which ended their impressive eight-match winning streak, they remain fourth in the Premier League standings.
Enzo Maresca’s side now sits 10 points behind league leaders Liverpool, who also have a game in hand.
As it stands, Chelsea’s hopes for a sustained title challenge appear increasingly unlikely, leaving fans concerned about the remainder of the season.