This was the start of a run of 4 daunting fixtures before Christmas for Leeds, although in the last couple of games Chelsea have been stuttering as they’ve been conceding goals, could Leeds take advantage of that?
Chelsea kicked off 4 points behind Man City, Leeds kicked off in 15th.
It was played at Stamford Bridge
After 2 minutes, a half chance for Werner but was saved easily by Meslier.
Four minutes later, Chelsea’s bright start continued as James cut back was punched clear by Meslier to edge of the box and Alonso’s shot collected easily by Meslier. A couple of minutes later, James nearly caught Meslier out but went wide.
On the quarter hour maek, Leeds’first corner was cleared to Raphinha outside the box, his shot was deflected and cleared by James for another corner , which came to nothing.
Four minutes later, Roberts won a freekick for Leeds outside the area in a dangerous area, Raphinha took it and tried to catch Mendy out but Mendy just about dealt with it with a good save in the top corner, then another freekick for Leeds, Raphinha swung it in but Mendy caught easily.
Leeds penalty and 1st goal
After 26 minutes, Reece James clashed with Dan James and caught him, the referee awarded a penalty to Leeds, VAR checked and agreed. Raphinha stepped up and put the ball past Mendy into the bottom left corner, Leeds fans went wild.
Chelsea equaliser
Three minutes before halftime, Chelsea were level as Alondo did a brilliant cross into the middle, and Mount was there to score with a left footed effort as he caught Meslier out.
Two minutes later, Ayling brought Loftus-Cheek down 22 yards out, Alonso took the freekick which just went over the bar. Then the last action of the 1st half was Jorginho played Havertz in, but Meslier made superb save for a corner, from the corner it dropped to Havertz inside the 6 yard box, he spun and shot but Forshaw blocked and it went over the bar.
Halftime score: Chelsea 1-1 Leeds United
It was a half which Chelsea started bright, then Leeds had good period before Chelsea responded, could the 2nd half be as frantic as the 1st?
After 50 minutes, patient play by Leeds ended with Harrison shooting from outside the box but Mendy saved comfortably. Then Havertz’s attempted cross was blocked by Ayling for a Chelsea corner, which Werner headed on but Meslier saved easily.
Chelsea penalty and 2nd Chelsea goal
Five minutes later, Chelsea appealed for a penalty as Raphinha brought Rudiger down , the ref initially pointed for a corner, VAR checked and advised him to look at the monitor, the ref pointed to the penalty spot for Chelsea, Jorginho coolly converted the penalty and Chelsea were ahead, could Leeds respond?
After 65 minutes, Roberts’ shot saved by Mendy. Then three minutes later, Nice buildup by Leeds ended with Raphinha’s cross blocked.
Leeds equaliser
With six minutes of normal time left, what a moment for Joe Gelhardt as Roberts was set down the left wing, he crossed for Gelhardt who got ahead of SIlva 6 yards out and scored his first Premier League goal to equalise for Leeds, he’d only been on the pitch for 81 seconds, could Leeds hold on for a point?
Two minutes later, Klich got into the box, he should have crossed but he shot which was blocked.
2nd Chelsea penalty and 3rd Chelsea goal
In the 2nd minute of stoppage time, Klich stuck a leg on which meant he bundled Rudiger over, it was a silly challenge and the ref pointed to the penalty spot again , VAR checked and agreed, Jorginho sent it to the left and struck late for Chelsea. Lat week it was late joy for Leeds, this week late heartbreak.
It left Leeds in 15th place on 16 points but they had a good weekend as the teams around them also lost.
Highlights of this game are at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GVML74Ed1g
Next for Leeds is game 2 of this daunting run of fixtures as they head across the M62 to Manchester to face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday 14th December 2021 in BT Sport with a 8pm kickoff.
