Leeds United stunned Chelsea 3-1 to claim their first league win in 5 games
Leeds United secured a surprise 3-1 win over Chelsea in their English Premier League match at Elland Road on Wednesday night.
The Whites were too good for a sleepy and error-strewn Chelsea team that let in two goals in the first half to gift Leeds a surprise win. Jaka Bijol, Ao Tanaka and Dominik Calvert-Lewin were all on target for the hosts, while Pedro Neto netted the Blues’ only goal.
Victory ended a run of four straight losses for Leeds, while Chelsea are now winless in two matches.
Chelsea were missing Moises Caicedo, serving a match ban for his red card over the weekend, while Cole Palmer was left on the bench despite a return to fitness following injury.
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Leeds created the better chances in the early exchanges and went ahead in six minutes when Bijol rose highest to direct Anton Stach’s cross into the net with a header for 1-0. Tanaka doubled the advantage with a well-struck shot into the far corner from just outside the penalty area to send their fans into ecstasy at the break.
Enzo Maresca’s side returned for the second half with more urgency, and it paid immediate dividends on 50 minutes. Neto, on as a substitute at the start of the half, fired in at the far post for 2-1, giving Chelsea a route back into the game.
Leeds, however, plugged the loophole with a third goal gifted by a Chelsea defence that switched off, allowing Calvert-Lewin to score on the rebound on 72 minutes to seal the win.
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Triumph for Leeds United is the first time Daniel Farke has coached a team to victory over Chelsea in four attempts, moving his side out of the relegation zone to 17th on the log, while Chelsea remain in the top four.
In other matches, Arsenal restored their five-point advantage at the top of the EPL table with a 2-0 win over Brentford at Emirates Stadium. Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka scored in each half to maintain the Gunners’ title charge. Liverpool, however, rescued a point against Sunderland at Anfield thanks to Florian Wirtz’s first-ever goal for the club. Tolu Arokodare was a late substitute and could not help winless Wolverhampton Wanderers’ relegation struggles.
RESULTS
Arsenal 2-0 Brentford
Burnley 0-1 Crystal Palace
Brighton 3-4 Aston Villa
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-1 Nottingham Forest
Leeds United 3-1 Chelsea
Liverpool 1-1 Sunderland
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