Leeds United ran out comprehensive 3-1 winners against Chelsea, but the Blues should have been down to 10 men in the first half.
An all-action performance across 90 minutes was the demand from the Elland Road fanbase on Wednesday night. Leeds needed to build on the positives they showed away at Manchester City.
Daniel Farke’s setup up promised just that, as Leeds took full advantage of a lethargic Chelsea display to go in at half-time 2-0 up.
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Plenty in Chelsea circles were worried about Elland Road being a banana skin in their outside shouts for the title. An energy-sapping week against Barcelona and Arsenal took its toll not only on Enzo Maresca’s team selection, but also in those that started, looking levels below Leeds’ intensity.
Leeds United celebrate a deserved 3-1 win over Chelsea. (REUTERS/Chris Radburn)
That was outlined when Jaka Bijol rose highest to thump home the opener, before high pressing sparked Leeds’ second as Ao Tanaka rifled in from 20 yards.
Despite having less than 30% of the ball, Leeds proved that their organisation and aggression would deservedly see them through. They got in the faces of Chelsea’s expensively assembled squad. As a result, the Blues didn’t want to know for large parts of the match.
Leeds’ height and physicality finally bore fruit for Daniel Farke after weeks of clamour from the Whites fans to play into that aspect of the squad more intently.
Keith Hackett: Estevao should have been sent off in Leeds United v Chelsea
An interesting sub-plot of a 100mph half of football was Gabriel Gudmundsson’s barnstorming performance.
The Swede was hot on the heels of Chelsea starlet Estevao for every touch, and he was getting the better of him in almost every encounter. Around the 39th minute, frustration boiled over for the Brazilian. As he looked to stop a Gudmundsson breakaway, he lashed out with a kick from behind.
Darren England booked Estevao for his violent kick at Gabriel Gudmundsson. (REUTERS/Chris Radburn)
VAR checked the decision before Darren England stayed with a booking. But, ex-PGMOL referee Keith Hackett believes it was a blatant red card:
Simple answer-poor officiating not applying the law. Kicks or attempts to kick is a send off offence
— KEITH HACKETT (@HACKETTREF) December 4, 2025
Here, Hackett refers to IFAB Law 12 around fouls and misconduct:
“A tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned as serious foul play.
“Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.”
Shocking decision from Darren England to avoid Estevao red card vs Leeds United
There’s no debate to be had in this instance. That was a blatant red card, there’s no attempt to play the ball, as he’s deliberately stopping our attack. Not only that, but he’s kicked in a malicious manner purely to hurt Gudmundsson.
That is a red card offence by the letter of the law. Because, he has endangered the opponent with a dangerous kick from behind.
Generally speaking, Estevao was truly rattled by the way Gudmundsson suffocated him out wide. And, you could see his inexperience coming out the more the half went on. That moment was a case of red mist setting in, and Maresca was right to take him off.
“Welcome to the Premier League, welcome to Leeds,” Maresca fittingly responded.
Read more: Leeds United eye scalp against Liverpool this Saturday night.