Sports
Ipswich electrocute Chelsea in back to back defeats
Chelsea’s bid to climb back into the Premier League title race suffered a major blow as lowly Ipswich beat the Blues 2-0 at Portman Road on Monday.
Enzo Maresca’s side were rocked by Liam Delap’s early penalty and a second half goal from former Chelsea winger Omari Hutchinson.
Chelsea’s second successive defeat after their Boxing Day loss against Fulham left them without a win in their last three matches.
The west Londoners had emerged as surprise title contenders after an eight-match winning run in all competitions.
But Maresca had insisted throughout that spell that Chelsea’s inexperienced squad do not have what it takes to win the title in his first season after arriving from Leicester.
And the Italian’s prediction looks spot on after a shock result in Suffolk that leaves Chelsea in fourth place, 10 points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.
Third-bottom Ipswich climb within one point of safety after winning for the second time in their last four matches.
Kieran McKenna’s side have renewed belief they can avoid relegation back to the Championship thanks to their first top-flight home win in 22 years.
Ipswich took the fight to Chelsea right from the start as Delap bullied the visitors’ defence in pugnacious fashion.
Delap raced onto Leif Davis’ inch-perfect pass in the 12th minute and went to ground after the faintest of kicks by Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen.
Referee John Brooks awarded the spot-kick and Delap drilled into the bottom corner for his seventh goal of the season.
Cole Palmer almost levelled immediately when his free-kick from 22 yards smacked against the post.
Palmer’s superb left-footed cross was converted by Joao Felix midway through the first half but the Portugal striker’s powerful finish was disallowed for offside after a lengthy VAR check.
Just before half-time, Palmer’s superb 20-yard curler looked destined for the top corner after Felix’s lay-off, only for Christian Walton to brilliantly parry onto the crossbar
Felix’s header was cleared off the line by Wes Burns early in the second half before Walton thwarted Noni Madueke’s low effort.
Chelsea’s profligacy came back to haunt them as Ipswich doubled their lead in the 53rd minute.
Axel Disasi carelessly passed straight to Delap on the halfway line and he ran at Levi Colwill before passing back to Hutchinson.
Intelligently working a yard of space, Hutchinson drilled into the bottom corner.
It was a special goal for Hutchinson against a club that released him twice from their youth team.
Chelsea were unable to muster a response as Ipswich inflicted a painful defeat with repercussions at both ends of the table.
Barely two months after losing his father, Super Eagles and Chippa United goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, has lost his mother.
The South Africa-based goalkeeper shared the heartbreaking news via X on Wednesday.
“Rip mom, worst year of my life already,” the goalkeeper posted with tears and heartbreak emoji on New Year’s Day.
“A very very crazy world indeed,” he posted before sharing the news.
The Nigeria Football Federation sent soothing words to the goalkeeper.
“Our heartfelt condolences to Stanley Nwabali on the loss of his mother. Stay strong, Stanley. Sending you strength and support during this difficult time. You are not alone; we are all with you.”
Nwabali’s father’s passing was announced in November, a few hours after the goalkeeper was in goal for the Super Eagles in their 1-1 draw against the Benin Republic during their penultimate 2025 AFCON qualification match.
Although he did not disclose the cause of his mother’s death, it must have come as a rude shock to him, having shared a 2024 recap video in the wee hours of New Year’s Day.
“2024 was a good year, we’re doubling everything in 2025. Thank you Chippa United FC. Thank you Super Eagles. Thanks to all my fans. Let’s do more!” he wrote.
The player has been receiving condolences messages after announcing the sad news.
“So sorry for your loss. May God comfort you and your family,” journalist Latifat Adebayo-Ohio commented.
A fan, Hillary Remy also wrote, “So sorry for your loss. May God strengthen you and all your family members.”
“Accept my heartfelt condolences chief,” wrote Adewale Damilare.
Arsenal came from behind in Wednesday to beat Brentford 3-1.
Having been rocked by Bryan Mbeumo’s early goal, Mikel Arteta’s side very nearly went two behind when David Raya let Keane Lewis-Potter’s shot squirm through his fingertips.
But the Spanish goalkeeper scrambled superbly to hook the ball off his own line, and barely 60 seconds later, Gabriel Jesus latched on to a rebound to nod home an equaliser.
Brentford came into the game with somewhat of an injury crisis as Thomas Frank had near enough a full Premier League team out on the sidelines.
However, it was the hosts, boosted by the availability of goalkeeper Mark Flekken, who took the lead through Bryan Mbeumo’s early strike (13).
Frank was asked about potential interest in the forward from Premier League clubs ahead of the game and the Brentford boss laughed off suggestions the 25-year-old could leave the club this month. Mbeumo showed once again how crucial he is to this Brentford side, nestling a low strike past David Raya at his near post for his 11th league goal of the season.
It is regularly said football is a game of fine margins. It proved to be the case again in this match as Raya inexplicably let Keane Lewis-Potter’s shot slip through his fingers. The ball bounced agonisingly towards goal but Raya reacted quickly and leapt back to claw the ball off the goal line.
Asamoah Gyan went from earning a staggering amount of money in the Chinese Super League to having just £597 in his bank account.
The 39-year-old Ghanaian striker started his career at Liberty Professionals in 2003 before being snapped up by Udinese for an undisclosed fee later that year. Gyan spent five years with the Italian club, including a loan spell with Modena between 2004 and 2006, before Rennes signed him.
After netting 14 goals in 51 games for the French side, Sunderland shattered their club-record transfer fee to bring Gyan to Wearside for £10million in 2010. However, his stint in the North East was brief – he was loaned out to Al Ain in 2011 before a permanent deal was struck the following year.
In the United Arab Emirates, Gyan raked in a reported £160,000 per week – three times what he was earning with the Black Cats in the Premier League.
His hefty salary was certainly justified as he scored an impressive 112 goals in 107 matches.
In 2015, Gyan further boosted his wealth by securing a move to Shanghai SIPG under ex-England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson. And Gyan was said to be the eighth highest-paid footballer globally at the time, pocketing a cool £227k per week.
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