As Stamford Bridge erupted with a roaring triumph their euphoria was disrupted after a brawl among the players. As the game reached its climax Rudiger won a penalty by drawing out a foul from Klich. With ice-cold veins, the Italian mid-fielder steeped up to undo all the hard work of Leeds. A low driven shot to the right side of the net sealed off the game in the favour of the hosts. With VAR at the heart of the game, controversies are bound to emerge.
A five-goal thriller
Both teams started out brightly as Mendy and Meslier were called into action. Leeds drew the first blood as Raphinha converted from the spot. Chris Kavanagh initially pointed out to the spot. Mike Dean (VAR official) stayed on with the original decision despite protests from the Chelsea players. The Brazilian winger shattered the prowess which Chelsea has enjoyed under Tuchel. Chelsea’s recent form has been fragmented since Kante went out due to an injury. Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku without their scoring touch have added salt to their fresh wounds.
With the halfway mark approaching Mason Mount met Alonso’s cross to restore the parity. The Spanish left-back made amends for his slip-up at the back. With acres of space on the left attacking front Alonso is more than capable of delivering pinpoint crosses even in the jam-packed areas.
The Blues started the second half with an offensive mindset. Rudiger drew the first foul as Raphinha came sliding in his box. Once again VAR was called into action for a potential check. According to the replay, Raphinha played the ball with Rudiger waiting for a challenge to come in. As VAR decided to stay with the on-field decision, once again people started to question the role of the technology. Jorginho stepped up to give Chelsea the lead for the first time in the tie.
Leeds started to show a bit of urgency as the clock struck the 80th-minute mark. Joe Gelhardt came in with a pair of fresh legs to keep the attacking momentum on. Within a minute of his introduction, Gelhardt with a golden touch brought his team back to life.
An additional five minutes was added with Chelsea pushing on for the winner. Once again a feeling of De Ja Vu came over Leeds as Chris Kavanagh pointed towards the spot after Rudiger went down. Jorghino once again stepped up to take the penalty kick and once again he sent Meslier the wrong way.
Impact on the League Table
With a 3-2 scoreline, Chelsea edged past Leeds after a dramatic end. Leeds currently stands in 15th position and they continue to maintain their distance from the relegation zone. For Chelsea, a victory keeps their insight of the top position. Manchester City and Liverpool stood victorious in both of their respective fixtures. The battle for the crown is getting intense as each fixture passes by. Even the smallest slip-up can cause a shift in the top position. The upcoming game weeks are going to be crucial as each team has a chance to build or close the gap for the league title.
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