Leeds United delivered their finest performance of the season with a stunning 3-1 victory over Chelsea at Elland Road, lifting themselves out of the Premier League’s bottom three and easing pressure on manager Daniel Farke.
The hosts struck early when Jaka Bijol powered home a header from Anton Stach’s corner in the sixth minute, his first goal for the club. Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez got a hand to it but could not keep it out.
Leeds continued to dominate the opening stages, with Pascal Struijk and Ao Tanaka both going close before Tanaka finally doubled the lead two minutes before half-time. Lukas Nmecha won back possession deep in Chelsea’s half and Tanaka unleashed a superb 25-yard strike into the bottom corner for his first goal of the season.
Chelsea responded five minutes into the second half when Jamie Gittens skipped past Jayden Bogle and crossed for Pedro Neto, who turned in his fifth league goal of the campaign.
Leeds thought they had restored their two-goal cushion almost immediately through Nmecha, but his emphatic finish was ruled out for offside.
Enzo Maresca introduced Alejandro Garnacho and Cole Palmer, the latter making his first appearance since September 20 after recovering from groin and toe injuries.
Palmer spurned a golden chance from Garnacho’s cut-back, and Chelsea were punished soon after. In the 72nd minute, Tosin Adarabioyo’s short back-pass to Sánchez was pounced on by substitute Noah Okafor, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin tapped home to make it 3-1.
Despite enjoying plenty of possession late on, Chelsea could not break down Leeds, who held firm for their first win since late October. Gabriel Gudmundsson and Okafor both missed chances to add further gloss, but the damage was already done.
The result dented Chelsea’s title hopes, coming just days after their 3-0 win over Barcelona and battling 1-1 draw with Arsenal. Leeds, meanwhile, snapped a four-game losing streak and reignited their survival fight in front of a raucous Elland Road crowd.
