Chelsea suffered a significant setback in their Premier League ambitions after a surprising 2-0 loss to Ipswich Town at Portman Road. The defeat highlighted weaknesses in Enzo Maresca’s side and left fans questioning some of his tactical decisions.
Liam Delap gave the hosts an early advantage, converting a controversial penalty in the 13th minute after Filip Jorgensen was adjudged to have committed a foul. Replays suggested there was minimal contact, but referee John Brooks stood by his decision. Despite the setback, Jorgensen made several key saves to keep his side in the game.
Chelsea came close to equalizing multiple times. Cole Palmer hit the post with a free-kick, and Joao Felix had a goal disallowed for a narrow offside. However, defensive frailties surfaced in the second half when Axel Disasi’s error gifted Omari Hutchinson, a former Chelsea player, the chance to double Ipswich’s lead. The Blues struggled to respond and failed to mount a meaningful comeback.
Player Performances:
Filip Jorgensen (6): Given a rare start in goal, Jorgensen was unlucky to concede the penalty and later redeemed himself with a series of crucial saves. However, he couldn’t prevent Hutchinson’s goal.
Axel Disasi (3): Disasi had a night to forget. His defensive performance lacked urgency, and his mistake directly led to Ipswich’s second goal. Many were surprised he wasn’t substituted after the error.
Levi Colwill (4): The center-back missed a clear chance to equalize and struggled defensively. His frustration boiled over towards the end, resulting in a booking.
Marc Cucurella (5): Despite covering significant ground, Cucurella had little impact on the match. He failed to deliver offensively and defensively, with one poor shot being his standout moment.
Moises Caicedo (5): Typically energetic, the Ecuadorian midfielder had a quiet game and struggled to influence proceedings.
Enzo Fernandez (6): Fernandez showcased his playmaking abilities with some excellent passes, but his defensive contributions were lacking.
Cole Palmer (6): Palmer was among Chelsea’s brighter players, coming close to scoring with a free-kick and creating chances for teammates. However, he faded in the second half.
Joao Felix (5): Felix had a disallowed goal and another attempt cleared off the line. Despite his efforts, he was substituted early in the second half, much to his surprise.
Christopher Nkunku (5): The forward was unable to make an impact, with limited service rendering him ineffective.
Substitutes:
Nicolas Jackson and Jadon Sancho offered little upon introduction, while Pedro Neto’s cameo was too brief to influence the game significantly.
Chelsea’s fans were vocal in their disappointment, criticizing Maresca’s tactics and player selections. The result exposed glaring issues in the team’s cohesion and performance, which will need to be addressed if they hope to contend for the title.