Premier League
Chelsea 3 (Mount 42’, Jorginho 58’ pen, 90’ pen)
Leeds United 2 (Raphinha 27’ pen, Gelhardt 83’)
Chelsea: Mendy (GK), Rudiger, Alonso (Lukaku 87'), Jorginho, Silva, Werner (Hudson-Odoi 74’), Loftus-Cheek, Mount, James, Azpilicueta (c) (Christensen 74’), Havertz. Subs not used: Kepa (GK), Pulisic, Saul, Barkley, Ziyech, Sarr.
Leeds: Meslier (GK), Ayling (c), Firpo, Forshaw, Raphinha (Gelhardt 81’), Roberts, Llorente, Dallas, James (Cresswell 87’), Harrison, Shackleton (Klich 59’). Subs not used: Klaesson (GK), Drameh, Summerville, McKinstry, McCarron, Jenkins.
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 39,595
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Booked: James, Mount (Chelsea) Firpo, Shackleton, Klich, Meslier, Llorente (Leeds)
Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United side conceded from a stoppage time penalty away at Chelsea to lose in West London, at a rain-soaked Stamford Bridge.
Both teams were on the attack from the outset in what was going to be a match between two teams that would certainly look to try and win the game.
The first real chance on goal for the Whites came from top-scorer, Raphinha. Having seen Tyler Roberts clipped just outside the area, the Brazilian stepped up and curled a free-kick towards the top-corner only to see Edouard Mendy fly across his goal and tip over the bar.
It wouldn’t be long though before Leeds and Raphinha did open the scoring. A brilliant run into the box from Dan James saw him skip past Marcos Alonso, who chopped the winger down.
Chris Kavanagh, the referee at Stamford Bridge, pointed to the spot and his decision was confirmed via a VAR check. Up stepped Raphinha to calmly stutter towards the ball and fire beyond Mendy to put Leeds in front.
The hosts predictably then looked to pressure in search of an equaliser. That allowed Leeds to have space to break on the counter, with the combination of Roberts, James and Raphinha causing issues.
After giving away the earlier penalty, Alonso made up for his error by creating the opportunity to get Chelsea back on terms. His cross from the left found Mason Mount in space who cushioned home a volley to equalise at the near post.
The full-back was busy again shortly after, this time curling a free-kick over Illan Meslier’s bar from 25-yards. The United ‘keeper was needed before half-time though, as he made an excellent save at his near-post to stop Kai Havertz from putting the Blues ahead.
The referee brought an entertaining first half to a close, with both teams finding the net and having other chances in the game.
HALF TIME: Chelsea 1-1 Leeds United
Just 10 minutes into the second half at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea went ahead in the match. Raphinha was adjudged to have fouled Antonio Rudiger inside the box, despite a corner initially being awarded. The referee was sent to the VAR monitor and changed his mind to a penalty to Chelsea.
It was Jorginho who stepped up to take the penalty and like Raphinha in the first half, he stuttered and calmly ran up to the ball, striking it into the top corner with Meslier going the other way, putting his side 2-1 up.
Bielsa went to his bench shortly after the goal, with Mateusz Klich replacing Jamie Shackleton. Just after his introduction, the midfielder created a chance with a burst forward which saw Roberts force Mendy into a low save.
It was however the next substitution that made the instant impact the Whites and Bielsa were looking for. Joe Gelhardt was brought on in place of previous goalscorer Raphinha, with 10 minutes to go in the game.
From his first touch of the ball, he got in front of the Chelsea defence after a superb low cross from Roberts, to turn home at the near post and score his first ever Premier League goal, levelling the scores up!
Charlie Cresswell was then introduced for the Whites in place of James, and five minutes of added time were shown in West London at the end of the game with the score level at two-all.
In the fourth minute of the five, a third penalty of the match was awarded for another foul on Rudiger inside the area, this time from Klich. Up stepped Jorginho again to put the ball in the other corner to his previous effort, getting his side all three points.
The Whites had battled throughout and were unfortunate to come away from Stamford Bridge without a point. Next up is a mid-week trip to face Manchester City away from home.
FULL TIME: Chelsea 3-2 Leeds United