Chelsea 3 Leeds United 1 – Lampard’s Blues dominant as they overwhelm Leeds 3-1

Updated: 28th November 2023

English Premier League match report – Chelsea vs. Leeds United – Saturday, 5 December,2020

Chelsea 3 Leeds United 1 – Stamford Bridge

Goals from  Olivier Giroud, Kurt Zouma and substitute Christian Pulisic sealed a 3-1 win for Chelsea as Frank Lampard's men came from behind to beat Leeds United in front of 2000 fans allowed into Stamford Bridge.

The Blues supporters were silenced in as early as the 4th minute as Patrick Bamford wormed in between defender Kurt Zouma and keeper Edouard Mendy before slotting his shot in for Leeds' opener.

Leeds could made Werner's miss look dear as they threatened on the break with Bamford firing Jack Harrison's cutback over, Luke Ayling having his attempt into the goal declared offside and Ezgjan Alioski hitting the post.

Hakim Ziyech limping off with a hamstring injury barely half-an-hour into the game, was replaced by Christian Pulisic who lent pace to the Chelsea attack especially during the second-half. The Blues showed great urgency post the interval with Kai Havertz narrowly heading over a whipped free-kick from James and Pulisic miscuing an attempt wide.

Leeds were not to be outdone as Thiago Silva was forced into a block when Raphinha met Mateusz Klich's corner on the volley before the winger fired the rebound over.

Werner showing phenomenal pace was then denied twice by keeper Illan Meslier before an unmarked Kurt Zouma put the hosts ahead from a fierce header off a Mason Mount corner. Werner was at it again as he forced one more save from Meslier and Giroud wasted a free header as Chelsea pressed for a third,

Chelsea may have survived a VAR inspection when Ben Chilwell's boot caught Ian Poveda inside the box, but the striker didn't go down as he unleashed his shot straight to Mendy and the incident passed.

Biesla's Whites went in for a hunt for an equalizer in the dying stages but the hosts had the last laugh Werner broke clear at great speed as he set up Pulisic who slid one in to make it 3-1 in the 93rd minute.

Chelsea finished the week on 3rd with 22 points, two behind Tottenham and Liverpool while Leeds languish in the bottom half in the 14th.

Chelsea starting XI:

Mendy (goal), James, Silva, Zouma, Chilwell, Kante, Mount, Havertz, Werner, Ziyech, Giroud.

Subs: Pulisic, Kovacic, Abraham

Leeds starting XI:

Meslier (goal), Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Dallas, Phillips, Klich, Raphinha, Alioski, Harrison, Bamford.

Subs: Llorente, Poveda, Rodrigo

Man of the match: Olivier Giroud

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