Sancho rescues point against Ipswich but Chelsea lose ground in top-five race

As Ipswich reflected on another missed opportunity to keep alive their slim hopes of staying up, Chelsea struggled to make sense of their emotions after slipping to a draw that leaves their push for Champions League qualification in increasing peril.

There could be no complaints about the quality of entertainment during a breathless finale. In danger of being humiliated when they trailed 2-0 at half-time, Chelsea roared back during the second half and were level when Jadon Sancho scored for the first time since December.

Ipswich, though, held firm. Alex Palmer made some brilliant saves and Chelsea ran out of time. A point leaves Enzo Maresca’s side in touching distance of fourth place but with little room for manoeuvre.

Chelsea were almost back to full strength after using their second string to beat Legia Warsaw in the Conference League. Maresca, who did not repeat his rotation from the 0-0 draw at Brentford last weekend, opted for the speed of Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke on the flanks and there was much to enjoy about his team’s football during the early exchanges.

Wasteful finishing was the only criticism that could be levelled against Chelsea. They should have led after eight minutes, only for Nicolas Jackson to clip Enzo Fernández’s cutback against the woodwork from close range, and the chances kept coming. Madueke went close with a volley from Neto’s cross and it took a wonderful save from Alex Palmer to keep out a free header from Levi Colwill.

It was difficult to make sense of Ipswich’s approach at that stage. There was too much space behind their full-backs, they kept playing themselves into trouble and they were being outnumbered in midfield. Nobody could have predicted how much the mood would have swung by the time Ben Johnson was ghosting in at the far post to head Ipswich two goals in front in the 31st minute.

The atmosphere had deteriorated after the visitors dispensed with their unconvincing attempts to pass out from the back and went more direct in the 19th minute.

George Hirst, a 6ft 3in target man who was starting only because Liam Delap was on the bench after sustaining a rib injury in training, was ready when he was found by one simple long ball. The striker’s hold-up play was of the variety rarely seen in the modern game, the roll away from Tosin Adarabioyo flummoxing the Chelsea defender, and the rest was no less accomplished: a clever pass to the right for Johnson, a cross to the near post from the former West Ham man and a subtle finish from Julio Enciso, taking advantage of poor positioning from Colwill to poke in his first goal since joining on loan from Brighton.

Axel Tuanzebe turns the ball into his own net in the first minute of the second half. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters

Chelsea’s reaction to going behind was abysmal. Feeling the heat, Robert Sánchez went against Maresca’s instructions by booting a goal-kick up the pitch. The ploy seemed alien to Chelsea. Ipswich won the aerial duel and came back at them. Hirst, who was bullying his markers, flicked the ball to the left, Jack Clarke played in Enciso and the Paraguayan turned provider, crossing to Johnson who outjumped Marc Cucurella and directed a cute header beyond Sánchez for his first goal in Ipswich colours.

Maresca became the target for the crowd’s frustration. Ipswich were not supposed to prove this much of a nuisance without Delap, who counts Chelsea among his suitors, leading the line. Their ability to hold out remained in question. Chelsea were bound to push again. They adjusted at half-time, Malo Gusto coming on for Adarabioyo, and had renewed hope 18 seconds into the second half, Ipswich cracking when Madueke wriggled into the area and fired in a cross that Axel Tuanzebe turned into his own net.

A siege beckoned, although Ipswich retained a threat on the break. Hirst sent an angled shot wide and then mistimed a header from another Johnson cross.

Chelsea were crying out for some magic from Cole Palmer, who has gone 14 games without a goal, but he seemed to be battling with himself. Others had to step up. Neto drilled a shot over. Sancho came on for a tiring Madueke and provided a spark. Conor Townsend, on at left-back for Ipswich, made a crucial clearance to stop Fernández tapping in a low cross from Sancho.

Ipswich, who brought Delap on with 19 minutes left, looked exhausted. They faced adversity when Jaden Philogene went off injured five minutes after coming on. Chelsea sensed vulnerability. Ipswich were slow to react when the hosts took a corner short in the 79th minute. Sancho, who has been urged by Maresca to shoot more, took a touch and whipped a sublime effort into the far corner.

Chelsea had time for a winner. Trevoh Chalobah had a headed chance from a yard out but Alex Palmer made an astonishing save. Kieran McKenna told his players to calm down. Six minutes were added on and a Palmer-off ensued, Alex denying Cole. Jack Taylor then lashed a shot wide for Ipswich, who made off with a point when Alex Palmer stuck out a hand to thwart Fernández.