Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round
Chelsea 3 (Jackson 15’, Mudryk 37’, Gallagher 90’)
Leeds United 2 (Joseph 8’, 59’)
Chelsea: Sanchez (GK), Gusto (Chilwell 60’), Disasi, Chalobah, Gilchrist (Colwill 74’), Caicedo, Fernandez, Madueke (Gallagher 60’), Sterling (Palmer 74’), Mudryk (Tauriainen 90’), Jackson. Subs not used: Petrovic (GK), Samuels-Smith, Murray-Campbell, Harrison.
Leeds: Meslier, Firpo, Ampadu, Cooper (C), Piroe (Summerville 78’), Anthony, Rodon, Shackleton, James (Gnonto 78’), Gray, Roberts, Joseph. Subs not used: Klaesson (GK), van den Heuvel (GK), Cresswell, Kamara, Bamford, Shackleton, Byram.
Referee: David Coote
Booked: Chalobah, Fernandez, Caicedo (Chelsea) Firpo (Leeds)
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 37,892
Leeds United exited the Emirates FA Cup in the fifth round, following defeat at Stamford Bridge. The Whites put in an excellent showing, but a late goal for the hosts sent them through to the quarter-final.
Daniel Farke’s side started well and were on the front foot from kick-off in West London, taking the game to their higher-division opponents and that high pressing paid off inside the opening 10 minutes, with the first goal of the game.
Archie Gray pounced on the Blues defence, won the ball back and found Jaidon Anthony, who played it inside for Mateo Joseph, allowing the striker to run in on goal and smash home to send the travelling fans into raptures!
Chelsea hit back quickly though with a free-flowing move, to level the scores. Noni Madueke picked up the ball on the edge of the box and threaded a pass through to Nicolas Jackson, who calmly slotted into the bottom corner.
Both teams exchanged attacks as the half went on. Madueke had a strike at one end, before moments later, Connor Roberts was up from right back to have shot, which was blocked well and cleared.
Approaching the break, the hosts took the lead. Raheem Sterling found space on the right wing before pulling the ball back for Mykhailo Mudryk who found the bottom corner.
The first 45 minutes had been a competitive affair. Leeds had two late chances from set-plays but the home side stood firm on both, meaning they kept their lead going into the dressing room when the whistle went.
HALF TIME: Chelsea 2-1 Leeds United
Back out for the second half under the lights of Stamford Bridge, the tie was still all to play for, with Leicester City awaiting the victors in the next round of the competition.
Two big pieces of defending were needed at the start of the half, and both were carried out superbly by the captain. Liam Cooper saw Jackson and Mudryk running towards goal and on both occasions, he timed his challenges perfectly to deny the forwards.
Those blocks were crucial and kept Leeds in the game, and changed the momentum to get Farke’s side back on the front foot.
That allowed for further chances and Joseph took one, to double his tally for the night and level the game! Again it was Anthony who was the provider with a pinpoint cross to the back post, allowing Joseph to rise highest and head home.
Changes came on both sides. Willy Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville entered for Leeds, whereas Connor Gallagher and Cole Palmer came on for Chelsea.
Approaching the end of the game, both teams went in search of a winner, but it was the Blues who found one. Gallagher turned well on the edge of the box and struck home, to send Chelsea through.
The full-time whistle confirmed a first competitive defeat of 2024 for United in all competitions, and they will now return to league action against Huddersfield Town on Saturday.
FULL TIME: Chelsea 3-2 Leeds United
