Chelsea, frozen out of Europe on Thursday, kept the chill wind of further failure at bay yesterday with an injury-time goal from a player who has just come in from the cold.
Claudio Ranieri sent Sam Dalla Bona to train with the juniors after the Italian midfielder, who emerged as a virtual first-team regular last season, agitated for a move to Milan. Chelsea, meanwhile, were understood to have lined up a £6 million sterling deal with Internazionale. The deal broke down and slowly this season Dalla Bona has been welcomed back into the fold.
Yesterday, with two minutes of injury time gone and Chelsea facing a seventh draw in 11 Premiership games, the rehabilitated prodigy pounced on an error by Ipswich's Titus Bramble to unleash a 25-yard left-foot shot which arrowed into the top corner.
George Burley had hoped for better following Ipswich's UEFA Cup win in Helsingborg. After Chelsea's own embarrassing exit on Thursday, the spotlight has been on the health of the club's parent company, Chelsea Village, which recently announced a trading loss of £11 million and long-term debts of £97 million.
The Italian made six changes to the side beaten on Thursday. They dominated the first half but converted only one of a handful of chances.
Frank Lampard, Dalla Bona and Mikael Forssell went close early on before Chelsea took the lead just past the half-hour thanks to much good fortune.
Ipswich's Richard Naylor was unlucky to have a foul given against him deep in the Chelsea half. Celestine Babayaro took the free-kick at least 10 yards forward from where the offence took place. A sweeping move involving Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Forssell and Lampard ended with the ball falling to Gianfranco Zola who drilled a low shot home.
Ipswich bravely took the game to Chelsea in the second half. However, the only way they were going to score was from a penalty, won when Mario Melchiot pushed Marcus Stewart, who converted from the spot.
Chelsea piled on the pressure but looked to have been repelled until Bramble hesitated, allowing Hasselbaink to nip in, the ball eventually falling to Dalla Bona.
"I spoke a lot with Sam," said Ranieri of their close-season problems. "For me it is better for him to stay here and play." However, it is understood that Dalla Bona will join Inter at the end of this season.
CHELSEA: Bosnich, Babayaro, Desailly, Terry, Melchiot (Gudjohnsen 84), Lampard, Jokanovic (Gallas 45), Dalla Bona, Zola, Hasselbaink, Forssell (Stanic 71). Subs Not Used: Zenden, Cudicini. Goals: Zola 36, Dalla Bona 90.
IPSWICH: Sereni, Clapham (Reuser 76), Hreidarsson, Venus, Bramble, Magilton, Holland, Wright, Makin, Stewart, Naylor (Counago 65). Subs Not Used: Bent, Branagan, Gaardsoe. Booked: Wright, Naylor. Goal: Stewart 83 pen.
Referee: R Styles (Waterlooville).
