Leeds United shipped six goals but there is an undercurrent of truth beyond this fact
Cole Palmer led Chelsea's fightback
Cole Palmer led Chelsea's fightback(Image: Adrian DENNIS / AFP via Getty Images)
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Where to start with that one? A game that will certainly go down in the annals of League Cup history with nine goals scored in a 6-3 thriller, but Leeds United were to be on the wrong end.
Ultimately, though, the game hinged on one moment - the penalty for Chelsea. Daniel James can feel harshly dealt with for being penalised for his foul on Pep Chavarria, four minutes after Brenden Aaronson had put Leeds 2-0 up, even if by the letter of the law the call was valid.
Daniel Farke said the decision came totally out of the blue - arguing that no Chelsea player had appealed - and was clear that this moment changed the course of the whole game.
Leeds felt they ought to have had a spot kick when Noah Okafor - the most productive substitute - was felled after being clattered into just inside the area at 5-3. Farke told BBC Radio Leeds afterwards that the referee acknowledged he had made an error over the call and apologised.
Of course, that does not help Leeds’ cause. The more blatant dispute hangs over the first penalty decision. Yet Leeds did themselves no favours amidst the comeback afterwards.
Defensive collapse
It was so unlike Leeds. A defence that has been so solid this season was dismantled after the penalty, which was put in by Cole Palmer. In the space of 12 minutes, Leeds had gone from 2-0 up to 3-2 down.
Of course, nods must be given to the quality of Xabi Alonso’s half-time substitutes; £42.5m Palmer scored again before £51.4m Pedro Neto curled one into the far post in a not too dissimilar goal. But Leeds themselves were also culpable.
Palmer’s second came from a throw-in that was weakly dealt with. Danny Welbeck’s first and Chelsea’s fourth saw the hosts get in down Leeds’ left and cross inwards, one quick movement from the striker sending Jaka Bijol sprawling and other off-balance.
Maybe debutant Michael Zetterer could have done better there, but he certainly should have done for the fourth. His weak palm away from the cross allowed Argentine pantomime villain Valentine Barco to lash home into what was essentially an unguarded net.
As Farke said after full-time, cup games can bring about such bizarre matches.
While it will cause some concern that the likes of Tarik Muharemovic and Bijol were on the pitch during the capitulation, the previous four games - with just two goals shipped - have shown enough to suggest this was a one-off night amid a much-rotated team of eight changes. There are no alarm bells sounding just yet.
Mixed debuts
Zetterer has to class his first bow as a disastrous one given six were fired past him. After a first half containing two easy saves, the ‘keeper had a rude awakening in the second period.
To be fair to the German, he cannot be blamed for all six goals. He almost got to Palmer’s penalty and can argue he was unsighted by Jaka Bijol for the second. The third was simply a good finish from Neto.
However, the fourth went through him and, as mentioned, the fifth was his doing. The sixth, an intuitive if also lucky diversion header from Barco’s wayward shot, cannot be pinned on him. But as debuts go, he will not wish to relive it.
Melvin Bard did better. A shaky opening 20 minutes that contained inaccurate passes and loose positioning - including leaving space for Estevao to get in, but for a wonderful James Justin tackle - left Farke infuriated more than once.
But the Frenchman - who did commit two fouls, won just 63% of his ground duels and none aerial - eventually stabilised and actually ended the game with an 87% pass completion rate, two successful dribbles and seven recoveries.
And he played a role in Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s goal, his tackle-pass sending Noah Okafor away to tee up the striker. He had to come off with cramp but can be pleased with how he acclimatized and ended up being one of the better players on the pitch.
A number of firsts
Spinning right back to the first goal, Harry Wilson earned his first assist thanks to Tarik Muharemovic’s maiden Leeds goal. Wilson swung in a deep corner that Muharemovic headed home from the tightest of angles, having moments earlier been denied a header by Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders.
All the while, Calvert-Lewin registered his first goal away from home this season with his tidy finish, meaning Okafor has recorded his first assist of the campaign. And Brenden Aaronson opened his account for the season.
There might be bigger topics to talk about but there are positives to pull out of what was an unforgettable game for those who attended.