Chelsea vs Leeds United is a fixture that is remembered for the mutual animosity shared between the two teams. This is a rivalry that started in the 1960s and reached its peak in the 1970 FA Cup final. In those days, there was a lot less discipline than today and matches between Chelsea and Leeds depicted that. There used to be so much brutality and recklessness when these two sides matched up. Over the years, especially when Leeds suffered relegation in 2004, that bitterness sort of faded away in the 16 years they were away.
However, yesterday in a typically thrilling encounter between the two, there were signs that this rivalry still exists. Five goals in a high-octane football match was punctuated by some strong tackles and mini-brawls. There were three penalties and the match concluded with an all-out fight at full-time with Antonio Rüdiger involved.
It all started when Marcos Alonso fouled Raphinha in the penalty box. The Brazilian stepped up to score the spot kick and then proceeded to taunt the home fans. In first half stoppage time, Mason Mount grabbed Chelsea’s equalizer and added more fuel to the fire. He immediately silenced the visiting fans as he did when his Derby County won a play-off match at Elland Road. Mount is a true Blue and knows about the hostility of this fixture.
In the second half, Rüdiger was fouled inside the box by Raphinha himself for the game’s second and Chelsea’s first penalty. Jorginho converted and despite recent inabilities to see out games, looked good for a win. But 19-year old Joe Gelhardt tapped home an equalizer just 81 seconds after replacing Raphinha. It looked like Chelsea had dropped two more points but Rüdiger was once again fouled in the area, this time by Mateusz Klich. Jorginho once again held his nerve to bag a much needed win for the Blues.
Chelsea resorted to desperate game management to see out the remaining few minutes and this fumed the Leeds players. Their tempers boiled over and it resulted in a chaos after full-time. For the older generation of Chelsea and Leeds fans, the sight wouldn’t have been an unfamiliar one. For years, this fixture was living in the cold, but yesterday, we are hopeful, it was reignited.
Chelsea grab vital three points in the title race
Recent form, not helped by injuries and defensive calamities had Chelsea drop from first to third in the league and surrender top spot in their Champions League group. But on a day when Man City and Liverpool themselves scrapped to three points, it was of paramount importance for Chelsea to do the same. They simply couldn’t afford to let City and Liverpool pull clear of them. Up next for them is Everton at the Bridge on Thursday.
