Ipswich Town enjoyed their historic return to Premier League glory on December 30, 2024, with a stunning 2-0 victory over Chelsea at Portman Road. This win marked their first home success since returning to the top flight, ending a 23-year drought at this level of competition. The match also delivered a significant blow to Chelsea's title hopes, leaving them struggling to maintain their position within the upper ranks of the league.
The home side started the match with high energy and determination. Just 12 minutes in, Liam Delap won the penalty after being fouled by Chelsea’s goalkeeper, Filip Jorgensen. Delap, confident after earning Ipswich's first league penalty of the season, stepped up and expertly fired the ball low and hard to secure Ipswich's opening goal. "We've worked so hard this season, and it's not gone right. The performances have deserved a win, and today we showed we are excellent. We're buzzing," Delap said after the match, reflecting the team’s hard work and resilience.
Despite their early setback, Chelsea had multiple opportunities to equalise. A disallowed goal by Joao Felix, after extensive VAR checks, left fans and players frustrated as Chelsea searched for the breakthrough. They had already seen Cole Palmer rattle the woodwork twice, once from a curling free kick and then from another shot, compounded by several missed opportunities to find the back of the net.
Entering the second half, Chelsea was determined to mount pressure on Ipswich. They started brightly, with striker Joao Felix coming close with headers and efforts on goal, only to be met by Ipswich's goalkeeper, Christian Walton, who performed effectively. Yet, any hopes of recovery were dashed when Delap capitalised on Axel Disasi's wayward pass, setting up Omari Hutchinson.
Hutchinson, playing against his former club, struck decisively to extend Ipswich's lead to 2-0. With his powerful shot, he demonstrated poise and skill, passing the ball past Jorgensen and igniting jubilant celebrations among the fans. After his goal, Hutchinson claimed he felt immense joy: "It's good to write history and finally get the first win at home," he declared, underscoring the significance of the win at Portman Road.
Chelsea's attempts to claw back were marred by disarray and missed chances, indicative of their disappointing holiday run, with just one point from their last three matches. Enzo Maresca's tactical decisions, including starting central defender Disasi at right back, were called out for contributing to the team's lack of stability. The defeat leaves Chelsea languishing at fourth place, ten points behind league leaders Liverpool.
This victory for Ipswich not only lifted them out of the relegation zone but invigorated their fight to maintain Premier League status, showcasing significant improvements made since their promotion.
Fans, players, and coaching staff revelled after the final whistle, highlighting the unyielding spirit of Kieran McKenna's side.
With this well-deserved victory, Ipswich has shown they possess the talent and grit to compete effectively at the highest level—and perhaps now possess the confidence they need to push forward.
Delap summarized their ambitions: "We just need to push on now and get more victories." The team is optimistic as they look to build on this momentum, demonstrating power both domestically and against high-profile opponents like Chelsea.