Leeds United continued their excellent start to this Premier League season by sealing a famous 3-0 win over Chelsea at Elland Road.
Chelsea’s summer signing Raheem Sterling started brightly and the England international shot just wide from 12 yards out after brilliantly jinking his way through the Leeds defence.
Although Chelsea looked the more dangerous of the two sides, Jesse Marsch’s Leeds brought bundles of energy to a game played at a frenetic pace. On 15 minutes Sterling this time found the bottom corner after once again dancing through the home defence, but the 27-year-old would be denied by the linesman’s flag.
On 20 minutes Leeds had their first shot in anger when in-form striker Rodrigo fired a low effort across Eduoard Mendy’s post from a difficult angle. Just a couple of minutes later though and Chelsea once again found themselves in-behind the Leeds defence, this time Mason Mount forcing Illan Meslier into a fine full-length stop.
Then in the 33rd minute, Leeds would take the lead in comical circumstances after a truly horrific error from Mendy in the Chelsea goal. The Senegalese goalkeeper is a world-class shot stopper but can often look clumsy on the ball and after he dallied in possession just a couple of yards from his goal Brenden Aaronson duly won the ball and fired it into an empty net from all of a yard out.
A couple of minutes later and the roof nearly came off Elland Road when Leeds made it two. The impressive Jack Harrison whipped in a wicked free-kick for Rodrigo to connect to with an excellent flicked header from eight yards out.
Leeds’ work rate continued to stifle Chelsea’s play as we entered the second half, with Thomas Tuchel’s side also struggling with the quality of their decision-making in the final third.
In the 68th minute, a nightmare day for Chelsea got even worse and Leeds went into dreamland when Harrison poked home from close range to seal another excellent counterattack from Marsch’s men.
Chelsea were absolutely humbled by Leeds 😳 pic.twitter.com/hbAU5sz8NB
— GOAL (@goal) August 21, 2022
There would still be time to add to Chelsea’s wounds in the 85th minute when experienced centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly rounded off a sloppy individual display by deservedly picking up a red card for two bookable offences.
Speaking afterwards Leeds American coach Jesse Marsch was understandably beaming.’
“I love it here, I love our fans, our club. You have to enjoy it, this business is not easy,” Marsch told BBC Five Live.
“I felt like I belonged from day one. The team has to represent the identity of the club and the fan base. They are never out worked and never out run.
“The more we can build on performances, we can really build something. I wish everyone could see how hard these guys work every day. We have felt it in the inside for months now.
“In this league winning is never easy.”
