Ipswich electrocute Chelsea in back to back defeats

Published

2 months ago

December 31, 2024

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.

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Arsenal shift aside PSV after winning on aggregate of 9-3 to reach UCL quarter final

Published

7 hours ago

March 13, 2025

Admin

Arsenal drew 2-2 with PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday to complete an emphatic 9-3 aggregate win and set up a Champions League quarter-final against holders Real Madrid.

The Gunners demolished the Dutch champions 7-1 in the Netherlands last week, making the second leg at the Emirates a formality.

Arsenal, who made seven changes from Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Manchester United, were quickly out of the blocks, scoring in the sixth minute through Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Croatian veteran Ivan Perisic pulled PSV level on the night with a fine finish past the sprawling David Raya but midfielder Declan Rice headed Arsenal back in front.

PSV, seeking to salvage pride after last week’s humiliation, equalised with 20 minutes to go with a well-taken goal from Couhaib Driouech.

Arsenal, who have never been crowned European champions, will play 15-time winners Real Madrid in the last eight after Carlo Ancelotti’s side squeaked past Atletico Madrid on penalties following a 2-2 draw on aggregate.

The two sides have met just twice previously, with Arsenal winning 1-0 on aggregate in the round of 16 in the 2005/06 season.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said the club should enjoy the achievement of reaching back-to-back quarter-finals for the first time since 2010, when Arsene Wenger was manager of the club.

“That tells you the difficulty of it,” said the Spaniard. “We have to value that and recognise that it is very difficult to do it.

“We’ve done it consistently and now we want to make the next step, which is going to be really difficult, but we are very capable of that.”

Arteta’s men, whose Premier League challenge has fizzled out in recent weeks, were quickly in the driving seat in the second leg against PSV on Wednesday.

Raheem Sterling received the ball on the right of the Arsenal attack and found his former Manchester City team-mate Zinchenko, who glided along the 18-yard box before unleashing a superb left-footed shot past Walter Benitez.

Former Tottenham player Perisic levelled in the 18th minute and Raya had to be alert to produce a fingertip save from the lively Driouech moments later.

But the home side were back in front in the 37th minute

Sterling, who has been out of favour under Arteta despite his lack of forward options, charged down the right and produced a teasing cross that Rice headed home.

Raya produced another fine save 10 minutes into the second half, diving full length to his left to keep out an effort from Isaac Babadi.

But PSV were level with 20 minutes to go after Moroccan youth international Driouech, making his first Champions League start, dinked the ball over the stranded Arsenal goalkeeper.

The Dutch champions were now on top but neither side could find a winner.

The Gunners are realistically out of the Premier League title race with leaders Liverpool 15 points clear at the top.

But they remain on course to win their first-ever Champions League trophy, and their first European silverware since they lifted the now-defunct Cup Winners’ Cup in 1994.

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Real Madrid squeeze past Atletico on penalties to secure Arsenal showdown

Published

12 hours ago

March 13, 2025

Austin Ojomah

Real Madrid advanced to the Champions League quarter-finals after a tense penalty shootout victory over Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium.

The match began explosively, with Gallagher giving Atletico the lead just 30 seconds into the game, setting the tone for a fiercely contested derby. Despite Vinicius Junior missing a crucial penalty in the 70th minute, Real Madrid managed to keep their composure and force extra time.

After 120 minutes of intense football, the tie was decided from the spot. Lucas Vazquez missed his penalty for Real, while Marcos Llorente failed to convert for Atletico.

A controversial moment arose when Julian Alvarez slipped while taking his penalty, causing the ball to graze his foot twice, leading to its disqualification after a VAR review.

Antonio Rudiger stepped up to take Real’s final penalty and calmly converted, sending Carlo Ancelotti’s side through to the next round.

Real Madrid now face an exciting quarter-final clash against Arsenal, who defeated PSV Eindhoven with an emphatic 9-3 aggregate scoreline. With their European ambitions intact, Los Blancos will look to build on this dramatic victory as they aim for further Champions League glory.