Leeds United took on Chelsea in a Tuesday night Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge.
Leeds United produced a brilliant comeback to stun Chelsea for the second time this season as Tuesday night’s Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge ended in a 2-2 draw.
Daniel Farke’s Whites had to deal with a big fresh blow in being without striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin who missed the game due to illness, joining injured key pair Pascal Struijk and Anton Stach in being out.
Farke’s side looked to be heading for an 11th defeat of the season as Chelsea raced into a 2-0 lead - helped by a poor call from Whites defender Jaka Bijol who pushed over Joao Pedro for a penalty that Cole Palmer converted.
Leeds, though, with Bijol responding strongly, produced a brilliant fightback as a Lukas Nmecha penalty and Noah Okafor strike sealed a 2-2 draw which ended with an incredible miss from Palmer who missed an open goal by somehow firing over from a few yards out.
Despite the injuries, Leeds made a decent enough start but without properly testing keeper Robert Sanchez, James Justin's weak header from an Ilia Gruev free-kick the only effort that needed saving. The Blues then gradually got going with Enzo Fernandez and Palmer pulling the strings in midfield.
Determined Leeds defending initially kept Chelsea at bay, Ilia Gruev making an important interception to thwart Palmer in the box and Sebastiaan Bornauw then blocking a drive from the same player from just outside the area.
A chipped pass from Enzo Fernandez then picked out Joao Pedro behind the Leeds back line but the striker was unable to get a quick shot away and when he did, Bornauw was able to get a block in.
But the Blues were knocking on the door and a lovely through ball from Palmer led to them taking the lead, the midfielder playing in Joao Pedro who advanced towards Karl Darlow before applying a clinical finish.
Chelsea quickly pushed for a second, Palmer again driving forward with men either side of him but going for goal himself with a low shot that Darlow saved.
Another chipped pass from Fernandez then found Pedro once more but the striker's effort on the turn from just inside the box hit the side netting.
In first half stoppage time, teenage midfielder Estevao got forward down the right but sent a wasteful shot over the bat and the half ended with Estevao barging Joe Rodon into the advertising hoardings, Rodon looking in some discomfort but eventually walking back to the tunnel.
Boss Daniel Farke opted against making any changes during the break, after which Chelsea were soon back on the attack.
Another clever flicked pass from Palmer found Estevao on the edge on the box and Estevao pulled his shot just wide.
After Leeds wasted a corner through a poor Justin delivery, a strong drive from Palmer inside the area was then blocked after Bornauw was nutmegged.
Farke made his first change moments later as Bornauw was substituted off for Noah Okafor in an attacking switch but moments later Chelsea were awarded a penalty as Jaka Bijol pushed Joao Pedro over in the box.
The striker had been played in over the top but was running away from goal, Bijol then placing his hands on his back and shoving him over for a clear penalty.
The in-form Palmer stepped up to take the spot kick and drilled a no nonsense effort into the bottom right as Karl Darlow dived the wrong way.
For Leeds, it was proving an evening to forget and the Blues quickly pushed for a third, the Whites surviving a huge scramble in the box.
But Farke’s side were then awarded a penalty as a ball over the top played in Jayden Bogle who raced into the box only to be brought down by a clumsy challenge from Moises Caicedo.
Lukas Nmecha stepped up to take the spot kick and the striker rifled home a brilliant finish into the top left corner with 67 minutes on the clock.
Chelsea looked to hit right back but Leeds now had a spring in their step and amazingly the Whites drew level just six minutes after Nmecha’s spot kick.
The Blues failed to deal with another ball over the top and after fine perseverance from Bogle, a slight touch from Nmecha saw the ball fall to substitute Okafor who was able to scramble the ball home from close range.
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior reacted by throwing on Liam Delap in addition to Wesley Fofana and Leeds were saved by a brilliant tackle by Justin as the Blues piled men into the box.
Farke, meanwhile, added pace upfront by taking off striker Nmecha and bringing on the fresh legs of Dan James.
Chelsea were now all out attack and the Blues went mightily close in the 86th minute through Pedro Neto who cut inside and sent in across that sailed all the way through the box and just wide of the post.
Moments later, Joao Pedro sent a header on the stretch wide at the far post.
The Blues were throwing everything at it and Rosenior’s side were given six minutes of added time in their bid to find a winner.
Leeds had to deal with several crosses into the box, one of which ended with Joao Pedro sending a header just over.
But the Blues looked certain to bag a winner in the 95th minute as a cross from Caicedo went all the way through the box to Palmer who arrived at the back post with the goal gaping but somehow fired his shot over from a couple of yards out.
Chelsea: Sanchez; Gusto, Acheampong, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Santos; Palmer, Fernandez, Estevao; Joao Pedro. Subs: Sharman-Lowe, Badiashile, Fofana, Sarr, Hato, Garnacho, Neto, Delap, Guiu.
Leeds United: Darlow, Bogle, Rodon, Bijol, Bornauw, Gudmundsson, Justin, Ampadu, Gruev, Aaronson, Nmecha. Subs: Perri, Byram, Longstaff, Tanaka, Buonanotte, James, Okafor, Gnonto, Piroe.
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