Leeds United 0-3 Chelsea
Chelsea moved to within one point of Champions League qualification thanks to a comfortable win at relegation threatened Leeds United, and the Whites’ head coach Jesse Marsch has some thinking to do.
This Wednesday night fixture, Premier League: Leeds United vs Chelsea had so much riding on it for both clubs. Leeds could have climbed out of the bottom three but they now have just two more chances to save their season. Meanwhile Chelsea shrugged off a poor run of form to put in a clinical display and all but guarantee Champions League football.
The excellent Mason Mount gave the Blues an early lead before Leeds went down to ten men midway through the first half, and when Christian Pulisic scored the second early in the second half the game was done, as Chelsea picked up the three valuable points at pre-match SBOTOP odds of 1.63.
Highlights of the game
The Leeds faithful have been magnificent in their support of their heroes and the noise in the Stadium was deafening as the referee started the game, but Chelsea took the heat out of the situation when they went ahead with just four minutes on the clock.
Without the suspended Luke Ayling, Leeds fielded a makeshift defence of four centre backs but there was nothing any of them could do as the Blues put together a brilliant move which resulted in Reece James pulling the ball back for Mount who side-footed into the top right corner.
The Whites began to settle into the game and then they suffered a horrible case of déjà vu. Just as Ayling was red carded early on in the defeat to Arsenal, Dan James suffered the same fate but he could hardly complain.
The Welsh winger piled into Mateo Kovacic; he took the ball but was high and dangerous and referee Antony Taylor brandished the red card. James left the field and was soon followed by the bruised Kovacic.
Romelu Lukaku had the ball in the net on 30 minutes but was marginally offside, and minutes later he glanced a James cross inches wide.
At half time the Blues were still just 1-0 up though largely in cruise control.
Leeds played a superb second half with ten men against Arsenal… and the Elland Road faithful were praying for a repeat.
Could Raphinha be the man to provide a divine intervention? Well he had a good chance when Leeds broke with a two on two but, instead of squaring for Rodrygo, the Brazilian ran into trouble.
And then came the second hammer blow. Jorginho played the ball into Mount and he flicked it on to Pulisic who drilled his shot beyond Illan Meslier and into the bottom corner.
It was brutal and brilliant in equal measures.
Leeds were not finished and Raphinha met a superb cross from Junior Firpo but his header flew over and, at the other end, Liam Cooper made a brilliant tackle to deny Lukaku. And the Belgian hit man had another shot deflected wide as Chelsea turned the screw.
Finally Lukaku’s goal came when he shook off the attention of four Leeds defenders and smashed the third high into the net.
Leeds’ best chance of the night came on 85 minutes but Robin Koch headed over when he should have hit the target.
And that just about summed up Leeds’ night.
Key statistics
In the end, the pre-match Leeds United vs Chelsea betting odds had it right, though the Blues were helped mightily by the ref’s first half intervention. But with 68 per cent possession, 17 shots to five and four to none on target Chelsea deserved the victory.
James’ red card was the first in his career; he’s by no means a dirty player but will have no complaints when he watches the video back.
What’s next?
With the Leeds United vs Chelsea updates followed throughout the land, in North London there will be some excited fans as Arsenal have the chance to confirm their Champions League qualification when they face Spurs on Thursday night. Provided the Gunners don’t lose Chelsea’s top four place is guaranteed.
Their next assignment is the FA Cup final against Liverpool on Saturday afternoon in a repeat of the 2022 Carabao Cup final, which the Reds won in a dramatic penalty shootout.
It’s the Blues’ third FA Cup final in a row and they are looking for payback.
Meanwhile Leeds must now prepare for the two huge games. On Sunday they entertain Graham Potter’s Brighton. The Seagulls are happily in mid table but are a dangerous side away from home. And then, on the final day of the campaign the Whites head to Brentford where they will hope to beat the Bees to spoil the party at the end of a fabulous season for Thomas Frank’s team.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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