Chelsea were held to a disappointing 2-2 draw by struggling Ipswich Town at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, with the Blues failing to secure a win against the Championship-bound side this season. The result leaves Chelsea’s top-four hopes hanging in the balance as they continue to struggle for consistency in the league. Despite a spirited second-half comeback, the team was unable to clinch a crucial victory in front of their home crowd.

Enzo Maresca’s team found themselves trailing by two goals at halftime, with Ipswich Town’s opening goal coming from Julio Enciso and their second from Jack Clarke. Both goals were expertly assisted by right-back Ben Johnson, with Clarke’s goal initially flagged offside but later confirmed by VAR after a semi-automated offside review overturned the decision.

Chelsea responded positively in the second half, with Axel Tuanzebe inadvertently scoring an own goal under pressure from Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella within the opening minute of the second half, giving the Blues a lifeline. Jadon Sancho then completed the comeback in the 79th minute, curling a stunning strike into the net from 25 yards after a well-executed short-corner routine. The goal sparked hope that Chelsea might push for a winner, but Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer had other ideas, making key saves in stoppage time to deny Trevoh Chalobah, Cole Palmer, and Enzo Fernandez all of their chances to steal the three points.

Despite the comeback, Chelsea's attack was far from their best. Cole Palmer, who has been a standout for Chelsea this season, continued his run of underwhelming performances, failing to make a significant impact for the third consecutive match. His inability to contribute to the game’s outcome was a concerning factor for manager Graham Potter heading into the final stretch of the season.

Chelsea now remain outside the top four, with their hopes of securing a Champions League spot increasingly uncertain. The team will need to improve their form significantly in the coming weeks to secure their place in European competition next season.

Meanwhile, Ipswich Town, who are battling to avoid relegation to League One, managed to cling to slim survival hopes after earning an unexpected point against one of the Premier League’s big names. They will take confidence from this spirited performance as they continue their fight for survival in the Championship.