Jadon Sancho scored a sublime equaliser as Chelsea fought back to draw 2-2 with Premier League strugglers Ipswich Town in a thriller at Stamford Bridge.

Substitute Sancho, who was jeered by some sections of the Blues fanbase when he came on, showed what he can do with a sensational effort in the 79th minute, picking the ball up on the edge of the penalty area and curling the ball into the far top corner. 

But in a potential blow to their hopes of securing Champions League qualification, Chelsea – who went 2-0 down in the first half – could not find a way past an inspired Alex Palmer late on.

Julio Enciso put Ipswich ahead with his first league goal for the Tractor Boys in the 19th minute, not long after Nicolas Jackson hit the woodwork at the other end.

Enciso then turned provider for Ben Johnson to head home his maiden Ipswich goal, which was given after a VAR check confirmed there was no offside in the build-up.

But Axel Tuanzebe’s own goal saw Chelsea pull one back immediately after the restart.

Sancho's fine curler restored parity, before Trevoh Chalobah, Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez all saw efforts brilliantly saved by Alex Palmer.

Data Debrief: Chelsea's Champions League blues

Chelsea have not competed in the Champions League since the 2022-23 season and Sunday's result put a dent in their hopes of doing so next season, amid stiff competition from Manchester City, Aston Villa and Newcastle United.

This was the first time that Chelsea have trailed by two goals at half-time of a Premier League home game to a team starting the day in the relegation zone.

And Chelsea's tally of 34 shots is the most in a Premier League game they have failed to win since a 0-0 draw with West Ham in January 2014 (39 shots). Those shots accumulated 2.14 expected goals, to Ipswich's 1.14.

Tuanzebe’s own-goal, timed 19 seconds after the restart, was Chelsea’s fastest second-half goal on record (since 2006-07), and the first own goal netted in the opening minute of the second half of a Premier League game since Chris Mepham for Bournemouth vs Liverpool in August 2022.