Portman Road erupted when Omari Hutchinson, once a promising talent at Chelsea’s Cobham academy (previously Arsenal), rolled the ball into the bottom corner.
He punctuated his strike with a cartwheel, which seemed to say no love was lost between him and his former club. The 21-year-old’s goal made Ipswich Town’s 2-0 victory feel like a statement, ending a long wait for a Premier League home win that stretched back to April 2002.
Ipswich’s triumph owed much to Liam Delap, who won a penalty before converting from 12 yards and later set up Hutchinson’s finish. His energy rattled a Chelsea side that has struggled through the festive schedule and now trails league leaders Liverpool by ten points. Enzo Maresca, who replaced Robert Sánchez with Filip Jörgensen in goal, hoped a raft of changes would spark new life. Yet, the plan faltered against a newly promoted opponent fighting to escape relegation.
A night to remember for Ipswich, who dent Chelsea titles hopes
João Félix had a goal disallowed for offside, Cole Palmer hit the post with a free-kick, and Christopher Nkunku never found the space he needed to threaten. With Kieran McKenna on the touchline, Ipswich refused to buckle in defense and found occasional bursts forward that kept Chelsea anxious.
Delap’s penalty arrived when he raced onto a through ball and collided with Jörgensen, who protested but could not alter the referee’s call. Soon after, Hutchinson pounced on Delap’s cutback, took a composed first touch, and passed the ball past Jörgensen. He celebrated with a flip that made his joy clear.
Hutchinson, who rejoined Chelsea in 2022 before making just a handful of senior appearances, found his big break with Ipswich after winning the Championship promotion and then rocketed up to the Premier League.
He scored ten goals and added six assists during that remarkable run, prompting Ipswich to sign him for a club-record $28 million. His performance here, sharp and fearless, suggested that fee might prove worth every cent for a team needing firepower to survive.
Chelsea’s problems, once confined to the back pages, now loom larger. Maresca’s outfit had started the season strongly but has slipped from second to fourth in the table, creating doubts about whether their title hopes can be revived. On the other hand, the mood at Portman Road has rarely been brighter.
Fans who waited 22 years for a home Premier League win were treated to the sight of an ex-Chelsea prospect delivering a dagger to his former club. Hutchinson’s goal and exuberant celebration may signal a new chapter for Ipswich and a warning for any opponent expecting an easy ride against them.
