Leeds 3-1 Chelsea

After commendable performances in their last two matches, Chelsea have been brought back down to earth with a shock 3-1 loss to Leeds at Elland Road. Centre Back, Jaka Bijol started the goalscoring on the night, followed by a great goal from Ao Tanaka, Pedro Neto pulled up one back for Chelsea but attempts at a comeback were squashed by Dominic Calvert Lewin’s goal, gifted to him by Tosin Adarabioyo of Chelsea.

Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Estevao were either side of Liam Delap, with João Pedro just behind him in Chelsea’s 4231. Andrey Santos partnered Enzo Fernandez in the absence of the suspended Moises Caicedo. Leeds meanwhile lined up in a 352. Calvert-Lewin was partnered up top by Lucas Nmecha and both were flanked by Jayden Bogle and Gabriel Gudmundsson who operated as the wingbacks.

From minute 1, the match was a stunning display of attacking intent from the home side, culminating in a surprising 3-1 victory for Leeds.

The match began with Leeds putting immediate pressure on the visitors. An early wayward shot saw Ao Tanaka slice a shot high and wide. Just minutes later, Leeds took the lead in the 6th minute. Jaka Bijol scored the opener with a powerful header from an Anton Stach corner, beating Robert Sánchez at the near post.

Leeds continued their bright start. An Ethan Ampadu throw-in fell to Anton Stach in the box, whose fierce strike was blocked and cleared by the Chelsea defense, registering an early save. In the 10th minute, Leeds nearly doubled their advantage when Pascal Struijk headed just past the left post following a corner, a near miss.

Chelsea began to create chances around the quarter-hour mark. In the 15th minute, João Pedro forced an error from goalkeeper Lucas Perri after a deflected pass from Enzo Fernández, but the Brazilian was unable to capitalize on the awkwardly bouncing ball, resulting in a near miss. Leeds responded in the 18th minute with a wayward shot as Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s curling effort drifted wide after a cross from Jayden Bogle.

Chelsea’s frustration mounted as their chances went unconverted. In the 23rd minute, a curling effort from Estêvão from the edge of the box was deflected narrowly wide for a corner, a near miss. Liam Delap struck a half-chance into the side-netting from an angle in the 28th minute, a wayward shot.

The first yellow card of the match was issued in the 35th minute when Leeds’ Anton Stach was booked. The second booking followed quickly in the 39th minute when Chelsea’s Estêvão was cautioned.

Leeds punished Chelsea’s lack of clinical finishing in the 43rd minute. Following sloppy Chelsea play that was pounced on by Jayden Bogle, Ao Tanaka scored the second goal with a superb, long-range strike from the edge of the box, beating Robert Sánchez with a thunderbolt into the top right corner. The first half ended with Leeds United leading 2-0. Notably, Chelsea did not have a single shot on target in the first half.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca made a double substitution at the start of the second half to inject life into the team. In the 46th minute, Pedro Neto replaced Estêvão , and Malo Gusto replaced Benoît Badiashile.

The changes paid off quickly. In the 50th minute, substitute Pedro Neto pulled a goal back with a close-range finish at the back post, converting a cross from Jamie Bynoe-Gittens.

The two goal deficit was nearly restored immediately, but in the 54th minute, Lukas Nmecha had a thumping finish ruled out for offside in the build-up, resulting in a disallowed goal for Leeds.

Chelsea made further attacking changes in the 61st minute, substituting Cole Palmer for Liam Delap and Alejandro Garnacho for Jamie Bynoe-Gittens.

In the 67th minute, Cole Palmer missed a golden chance, shooting wide with his left foot after a perfect pullback from Alejandro Garnacho, marking a crucial near miss that could have brought Chelsea level. Leeds made a double substitution in the same minute: Noah Okafor replaced Lukas Nmecha , and Ilia Gruev replaced Ao Tanaka.

Leeds restored their two-goal lead in the 72nd minute following a disastrous defensive error from Chelsea. Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored the third goal, tapping into an empty net after a defensive mix-up involving Tosin Adarabioyo’s mistake and Robert Sánchez’s uncertainty.

Chelsea made their final substitution in the 77th minute, with Marc Guiu replacing Andrey Santos. Leeds used their remaining substitutions in the 86th minute, with James Justin replacing Jayden Bogle and Joël Piroe replacing Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

In the 90th minute, Enzo Fernández blasted over the bar from the centre of the box following a corner, the final wayward shot for Chelsea. Leeds made their last change in the 90th minute plus three, replacing Gabriel Gudmundsson with Sebastiaan Bornauw. The match concluded shortly after, with the final score Leeds United 3-1 Chelsea.