Chelsea 6-3 Leeds: Report, result and goals as Blues fight back in nine-goal thriller

Catch up with all the action from Chelsea vs Leeds in the EFL Cup.

Chelsea 6-3 Leeds: Report, result and goals as Blues fight back in nine-goal thriller

Chelsea produced a remarkable second-half comeback to beat Leeds 6-3 and reach the fourth round of the EFL Cup after trailing by two goals at Stamford Bridge.

Leeds looked in control for much of the first half and deservedly led through Tarik Muharemovic, before Brenden Aaronson doubled their advantage three minutes after the restart.

But Chelsea responded with five goals in a stunning second half, with Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Danny Welbeck and Valentin Barco all finding the net.

Leeds took the lead from a set piece. Harry Wilson delivered towards the far post and Muharemovic peeled away from his marker to meet the cross with a looping header that found the net.

Gittens forced Zetterer into a save in the 40th minute, while Barco and Welbeck also came close before half-time, but Leeds went into the break with a deserved 1-0 advantage.

Xabi Alonso responded by making four changes at the interval, bringing on Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Morgan Rogers and Reece James.

However, Leeds struck again just three minutes into the second half.

Ethan Ampadu beat Rogers down the right and pulled the ball back from the byline. Lukas Nmecha flicked it into the path of Aaronson, who calmly found the bottom corner to make it 2-0.

The hosts were awarded a penalty in the 52nd minute after James’ delivery led to a challenge involving Chavarria, and Palmer stepped up to send Zetterer the wrong way from 12 yards.

Just two minutes later, Palmer had Chelsea level.

Rogers helped keep the attack alive before Palmer received the ball, taking his time before curling a low finish around the Leeds defence and into the bottom corner.

Chelsea then completed the turnaround in the 60th minute.

Palmer played a throughball into the area, Rogers got a touch to direct it into Neto’s path, and the winger curled a left-footed shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner.

The momentum remained with Chelsea and Welbeck made it 4-2 five minutes later.

Rogers again provided the assist, racing beyond Muharemovic before pulling the ball back from the right. Welbeck produced a clever touch to evade two defenders before finishing beyond Zetterer.

Leeds refused to go quietly and pulled a goal back in the 75th minute.

Noah Okafor raced into the box before squaring for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who arrived to send a first-time finish beneath Penders and make it 4-3.

Any hopes of another Leeds comeback were ended by Barco five minutes from time.

Palmer won possession in midfield before Rogers was released down the right. His cross flashed across goal and, after Zetterer failed to clear, Barco fired a left-footed finish into the far corner to restore Chelsea’s two-goal advantage.

Welbeck then completed the scoring during stoppage time.

Barco’s attempted shot from the edge of the box was badly mishit, but the ball struck Welbeck’s head and looped beyond Zetterer to make it 6-3.