Premier League
Leeds United 3 (Bijol 6’, Tanaka 43’, Calvert-Lewin 72’)
Chelsea 1 (Neto 50’)
Leeds: Perri (GK), Bogle (Justin 86’), Gudmundsson (Bornauw 90+4’), Ampadu (C), Struijk, Rodon, Calvert-Lewin (Piroe 86’), Nmecha (Okafor 67’), Bijol, Stach, Tanaka (Gruev 67’). Subs not used: Darlow (GK), Aaronson, Harrison, Gnonto.
Chelsea: Sánchez (GK), Cucurella, Adarabioyo, Badiashile (Gusto 46’), Fernández (C), Delap (Palmer 61’), Gittens (Garnacho 61’), Santos (Guiu 77’), Pedro, Chalobah, Estêvão (Neto 46’). Subs not used: Jörgensen (GK), Hato, James, Acheampong.
Venue: Elland Road
Attendance: 36,767
Referee: Darren England
Booked: Stach (Leeds) Estêvão (Chelsea)
It was a magical night under the Elland Road lights for Leeds United, who ran out 3-1 winners against third-placed Chelsea thanks to goals from Jaka Bijol, Ao Tanaka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Daniel Farke made four changes to his side following their spirited defeat at the Etihad last time out. Anton Stach returned from concussion to join Bijol, Gabi Gudmundsson and Calvert-Lewin in a shape-changed Whites side.
On a brisk West Yorkshire night, the historic rivalry got underway in front of a packed and roaring 34-thousand.
With Leeds on the front foot and pushing hard early, an Ethan Ampadu throw-in fell to Stach in the box, but his fierce strike was blocked and cleared by the Chelsea defence. Moments after there was another Stach shot from a long throw, this one blocked behind for a corner.
From the resulting corner, in came Bijol, flying toward the near post, rising highest and deftly heading past Robert Sánchez in the Blues’ net for his first Leeds goal. After an electric start, the Whites, firing hard and controlling the game, were in front early.
Counter-attacking, here went United again, Gudmundsson marauding to earn a second corner of the game. And with it, the Whites very nearly doubled their advantage, Pascal Struijk heading just past the left post.
Leeds showed defensive prowess as well; all three centre-backs made crucial interventions in quick succession as the visitors sought an equaliser.
And once more, Leeds drove forward, Jayden Bogle finding Calvert-Lewin in the box, but the forward’s curling effort drifted wide. Yet another time, it was the Whites on the front foot, with Stach setting Tanaka up on the edge of the area, though the Japanese international’s effort was mishit.
Chelsea’s best chance yet came from a Liam Delap cross into the box, but Bijol was on hand to turn it aside. Moments later, Estêvão delivered the visitors’ first effort at goal, deflected behind for a corner that Leeds scrambled away.
Leeds’ continued pressure paid off, as Stach snatched the ball away in the midfield and earned Whites a corner.
And then, here was Lukas Nmecha, winning the ball back once more and finding skipper Ampadu, who slotted the ball to Tanaka. The midfielder let rip, firing low and hard across the keeper and into the back of the net! The home side was two to the good!
Even then, Leeds refused to let up, seeing out the half with calm and resolute defensive work.
HALF TIME: Leeds United 2-0 Chelsea
Leeds started right where they picked off, Stach curling a cross into the box that Nmecha met and fired off the hands of Sánchez.
But it was the visitors who would strike first in the second period, Gittens hanging a cross past Lucas Perri’s goal to half-time substitute Pedro Neto at the back post, who bundled the ball in to halve United’s lead.
Minutes later, the ball was in the back of the Blues’ net with Nmecha blasting home, but the goal was chalked off for offside.
With Neto sprinting free down the right and baring down on Perri, it was Gudmundsson with a moment of defensive brilliance, stealing the ball back and winning a free-kick.
The game hung in the balance and up and down the ball went until Chelsea nearly evened the match, Alejandro Garnacho finding fellow-substitute Cole Palmer, but the England international slid the ball just wide of Perri’s right post.
It was the home side who’d find the next and decisive goal, as Okafor stole the ball of the toes of Adarabioyo in the box before poking it toward Sánchez. With the night’s favour behind them, it was the Whites who the ball bounced to! Experience striker Calvert-Lewin tapped in one of the easiest goals of his career, and Leeds were two goals up once more!
The Whites wanted more, and Calvert-Lewin raced up the field before playing a smart cross-field pass to Okafor, who found Gudmundsson, but the left back blazed over.
As the ninety minutes wound down, the Blues won a corner, and the Whites steeled themselves for six minutes of stoppage time. But with the ball bouncing in the box, Chelsea captain Enzo Fernández blazed over. The home faithful roared.
Adding a bright spot to an already brilliant day, summer transfer Sebastiaan Bornauw made his Premier League debut in the closing minutes, replacing the shining Gudmundsson at left-back.
Moments later, the whistle blew, cementing what was one of Leeds United’s best top-flight days in recent years. Three goals saw the Whites dispatch high-flying visitors Chelsea to climb above West Ham and out of the relegation zone.
FULL TIME: Leeds United 3-1 Chelsea
