Chelsea 6-3 Leeds: A nine-goal Carabao Cup thriller to be remembered
The led screen at Stamford Bridge confirms Chelsea's 6-3 victory over Leeds. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
It was an utterly drowsy start for Chelsea in the first half, which may have been partly due to the starting line-up chosen by head coach, Xabi Alonso.
Leeds controlled the match admirably in the first half, and they finally got the lead through a well-worked set-piece goal from Tarik Muharemovic, who headed home from a Harry Wilson corner.
The most remarkable pieces of action from the Blues were a couple of half-chances from the starting winger, Jamie Gittens, including a low, powerful effort that required a strong save to keep out.
Chelsea needed to change at half-time to compete with a Leeds side that was thoroughly dominant in the Carabao Cup tie.
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 09: Mike Penders of Chelsea fails to save a shot from Tarik Muharemovic of Leeds United (not pictured) as he scores his team’s first goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on September 09, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 09: Mike Penders of Chelsea fails to save a shot from Tarik Muharemovic of Leeds United (not pictured) as he scores his team’s first goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on September 09, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
A day of squad rotation
Both managers freshened up their line-ups significantly for the third-round tie.
Alonso made nine changes to the side that lost to Arsenal on Sunday, while Daniel Farke made eight changes of his own, handing debuts to Michael Zetterer and Melvin Bard.
The changes on both sides contributed to an open, error-strewn game, particularly in a first half short of quality from either team.
Alonso's half-time changes that transformed the game
The Blues' head coach had four players introduced at half time: Reece James, Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, and Pedro Neto, replacing Jamie Gittens, Reggie Watson, Estêvão, and Malo Gusto.
Little did everyone how much these changes would transform this game.
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 09: Xabi Alonso, Manager of Chelsea, reacts during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on September 09, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 09: Xabi Alonso, Manager of Chelsea, reacts during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on September 09, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Leeds score again!
Just two minutes into the second half, the Whites doubled their lead through Brenden Aaronson.
Ethan Ampadu won the ball high up the pitch and drove forward down the right flank.
His low pass found Lukas Nmecha, who flicked it into the path of Aaronson, and the midfielder finished from close range to make it 2-0.
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 9: Brendan Aaronson of Leeds United celebrates their second goal with Lukas Nmecha of Leeds United during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on September 9, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 9: Brendan Aaronson of Leeds United celebrates their second goal with Lukas Nmecha of Leeds United during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on September 9, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Cole Palmer is too hot to handle
Three minutes later, the Blues were given a route back into the game after Daniel James fouled Pep Chavarria inside the box.
Palmer stepped up and converted the resulting penalty to reduce the deficit to one.
He then doubled his tally two minutes later, curling home from the edge of the box to make it 2-2.
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 9: Cole Palmer of Chelsea celebrates scoring his teams first goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on September 9, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 9: Cole Palmer of Chelsea celebrates scoring his teams first goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on September 9, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Morgan Rogers making a statement with a hat-trick of assists
Rogers, introduced at half-time alongside Palmer, Neto, and James, quickly became the source of Chelsea's turnaround.
He set up Neto for Chelsea's third goal in the 60th minute, before teeing up Danny Welbeck five minutes later to put the Blues ahead for the first time.
By full-time, Rogers had recorded three assists from the bench.
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 09: Danny Welbeck of Chelsea celebrates scoring his team’s sixth goal with Morgan Rogers during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on September 09, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 09: Danny Welbeck of Chelsea celebrates scoring his team’s sixth goal with Morgan Rogers during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on September 09, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Leeds smell a comeback after Dominic Calvert-Lewin's goal
The Whites pulled a goal back in the 75th minute, as Noah Okafor set up Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who finished from close range to make it 4-3.
For a few minutes, a route back into the tie looked possible for the visitors.
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 09: Daniel Farke the head coach / manager of Leeds United speaks with Ethan Ampadu and Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Leeds United after the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on September 09, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 09: Daniel Farke the head coach / manager of Leeds United speaks with Ethan Ampadu and Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Leeds United after the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on September 09, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
Valentin Barco denies Leeds their comeback
Any hope of a Leeds fightback ended five minutes later.
Palmer won the ball back in midfield and released Rogers down the right.
His low cross was not dealt with by Michael Zetterer, and Valentin Barco finished from close range to restore Chelsea's two-goal advantage.
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 09: Valentin Barco of Chelsea celebrates scoring his team’s fifth goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on September 09, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 09: Valentin Barco of Chelsea celebrates scoring his team’s fifth goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on September 09, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Chelsea signing off with Welbeck's second goal of the night
Deep into stoppage time, Welbeck headed home from a Barco cross to complete the scoring.
The Blues progressed to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a 6-3 win.
Chelsea's English striker #18 Danny Welbeck scores the team's sixth goal during the English League Cup third round football match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge, in London on September 9, 2026. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
Chelsea's English striker #18 Danny Welbeck scores the team's sixth goal during the English League Cup third round football match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge, in London on September 9, 2026. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
What this result means going forward
The win sends Chelsea into the fourth round of the EFL Cup and extends their goal-scoring form under Alonso to 16 goals in his opening five matches in charge.
For Leeds, the defeat ends their run in the competition, despite a spirited second-half fightback under Daniel Farke.
The result also raises questions over squad depth for both sides, with fringe players from each team struggling before an inspired set of half-time substitutions decided the contest.