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Jadon Sancho celebrates after scoring Chelsea’s equaliser - Getty Images/Harry Murphy
Jadon Sancho’s goal enabled Chelsea to avoid the embarrassment of losing at home to Ipswich as well as away but which European competition they will be playing in next season remains anyone’s guess.
The point moved Chelsea into fifth – now confirmed as a Champions League qualification slot – but also vulnerable to being ejected from that by Newcastle later in the day.
Ipswich, who beat Chelsea 2-0 at Portman Road in December, took a 2-0 half-time lead through goals from Julio Enciso and Ben Johnson and although Axel Tuanzebe’s own goal reduced arrears seconds in the second half it was not until the 79th minute that substitute Sancho levelled with a fine strike from a short corner move.
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Second-half substitute Sancho found the far top corner with a fine strike in the 79th minute - Getty Images/Harry Murphy
Chelsea dominated the opening exchanges but failed to find the net. Nicolas Jackson hit a post from close range and Ipswich keeper Alex Palmer was required to make a number of saves, although other decent chances were fired over.
Ipswich caught the hosts out on the counter attack in the 19th minute with their first attack of substance. George Hirst began a run from the centre circle, played Johnson into a crossing position on the right and Enciso nipped in between the centre-backs to poke beyond Robert Sánchez for his first goal since joining on loan from Brighton.
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Julio Enciso celebrates after opening the scoring for Ipswich at Stamford Bridge - PA/Nigel French
Chelsea fans had already turned on their team when Johnson doubled the lead just after the half-hour mark with a back-post header perfectly placed across Sánchez.
The on-field call was that Enciso, the supplier of the cross, had been offside but the semi-automated technology introduced in the Premier League this weekend, proved it had been marginally otherwise.
Chelsea were booed off at the break but required just 18 second-half seconds to pull a goal back, with Tuanzebe diverting Noni Madueke’s low ball into his own goal.
Hirst twice went close at the other end however as Ipswich regained some composure and Chelsea reverted to creating chances without taking them.
Substitute Sancho showed them how to do it with his first goal since December 8. The on-loan Manchester United man dropped off to receive the ball just inside on the left from a short corner. He took aim and found the far top corner.
Chelsea pressed for a winner but Ipswich keeper Palmer pulled off two fine saves in stoppage time, first to deny Cole Palmer and then Enzo Fernández.
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