Chelsea 3-2 Leeds United (Jackson 15′, Mudryk 37′, Gallagher 90′ | Fernandez 8′, 59′)
STAMFORD BRIDGE — Chelsea‘s big-money signings finally lived up to their billing to ease the pressure on Mauricio Pochettino and edge their side into the quarter-final of the FA Cup.
Pochettino’s side will now host Leicester next month after this nervy victory, thanks to Conor Gallagher’s last-minute strike against a vibrant Leeds United side who had not tasted defeat in 2024 and are looking well set for an immediate return to the Premier League.
Heavily criticised after Sunday’s Carabao Cup extra-time defeat to Liverpool, Pochettino made five changes to his side with Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke – who cost £80m and £29m respectively – among the starters.
Leeds, who had not advanced past this stage of the competition since 2003, also made five changes for the first meeting between these two old rivals in the FA Cup since the infamous 1970 final replay.
Roared on by over 6,000 away fans, Daniel Farke’s team showed their attacking intent within the first seven minutes when Dan James nipped in front of a panicked Alfie Gilchrist, but the Welsh winger could only divert Connor Roberts’ long ball forward wide of the goal.
But seconds later Leeds went in front from the resulting goal-kick through 20-year-old Spanish-born, England Under-20 striker Mateo Joseph.
Moises Caicedo was sold short by a poor Axel Disasi pass on the edge of his own box and Archie Gray – great nephew of Leeds great Eddie – diverted the ball into the path of Joseph who smashed in his first senior goal.
That early setback immediately sparked Chelsea back into life with Raheem Sterling snatching a shot wide and Madueke firing over from the edge of the box before Nicolas Jackson levelled the score with a smart finish after exchanging passes with Caicedo on the edge of the box.
Mudryk put his side in front seven minutes before half-time to cap off a sweeping Chelsea move started by Madueke with Malo Gusto and Sterling combining to tee up the Ukrainian for an excellent first-time finish.
The second half was a somewhat frantic affair but Leeds deservedly grabbed an equaliser on the hour mark when Joseph ghosted in behind Disasi to nod home a superb Jaidon Anthony cross after good work from the impressive Gray.
Mudryk should have done better when he latched on to an Enzo Fernandez pass but his touch let him down as he advanced on goal.
With an absorbing contest looking destined for extra-time, Fernandez, handed the Chelsea captaincy for the first time, showed the quality that prompted Chelsea to shell out £105million for his services with a superb driving run and pass that picked out the advancing Gallagher.
The England international, introduced as a second-half substitute, kept his cool after taking a touch to blast past Meslier much to the relief of the Chelsea bench and the home crowd.
By Ian McCullough.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/CTiq2fu
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