Chelsea’s momentum under Liam Rosenior hit a snag on Tuesday night as a resilient Leeds United clawed back from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Despite dominant periods and goals from Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer, defensive lapses allowed the visitors to escape with a point.
Chelsea Player Ratings
GK – Robert Sanchez: 6
The goalkeeper was largely a spectator for the first hour but struggled when the pressure intensified. He lacked the necessary authority to clear the danger during the scramble that led to the Leeds equalizer. While his passing was sharp—notably launching the move for the penalty—he needed more conviction in his box.
LB – Marc Cucurella: 8
A tireless presence on the left side during the first half, Cucurella constantly looked to exploit gaps in the Leeds defense. He was a primary outlet for the Blues’ attacks and, despite his high starting position, managed to track back effectively to snuff out any potential counter-attacks before being substituted.
CB – Trevoh Chalobah: 7
The veteran defender acted as the vocal leader of the backline, organizing his teammates with constant instructions. He appeared to be cruising toward a clean sheet, making his frustration evident when the defensive structure crumbled in the final thirty minutes.
CB – Josh Acheampong: 6
It was a mixed bag for the youngster, who went into the book early for a cynical foul on Brenden Aaronson. He showcased his physical reach with several well-timed interceptions, but his positioning was questionable during Noah Okafor’s goal, where he seemed to lose his bearings in the box.
RB – Malo Gusto: 6
A steady if unspectacular evening for the right-back. Defensively, he was rarely troubled as Leeds found little joy on his flank. However, he offered less than usual in the final third, failing to establish a meaningful rhythm with Estevao before the Brazilian was withdrawn.
CDM – Andrey Santos: 9
The 21-year-old was the best player on the pitch for much of the night. Growing into a vital cog in Rosenior’s system, Santos combined grit with technical elegance. He delighted the home crowd with fierce tackling and followed it up with precise, forward-thinking distribution. A truly standout performance.
CDM – Moises Caicedo: 6
A tale of two halves for the midfielder. He was controlling the tempo and breaking up play with ease until a moment of madness saw him concede a soft penalty. That error completely shifted the game’s momentum. He nearly redeemed himself with a perfect late cross to Palmer, but the chance went begging.
RW – Cole Palmer: 8
When Palmer is in this mood, he is nearly unplayable. He drifted between the lines effortlessly, linking up with Enzo Fernandez to carve open the Leeds midfield. He dispatched his penalty with his signature coolness, though he will be haunted by a shocking miss from an open goal in the dying moments.
CAM – Enzo Fernandez: 7
The Argentine was instrumental in Chelsea’s early dominance, providing the tactical flexibility that allowed Palmer to roam. His work rate was high throughout the first half, though his influence began to wane as Leeds flooded the midfield late in the game to find their way back.
LW – Estevao: 6
The young winger had a quiet opening period, often overshadowed by the activity of Palmer and Fernandez. He showed flashes of his “livewire” reputation early in the second half following a pep talk from the manager, but his night ended prematurely as he was substituted after 63 minutes.
ST – Joao Pedro: 8
Pedro proved to be a constant thorn in the side of the Leeds center-backs. His movement was exceptional, and he displayed great technical skill to settle difficult balls in tight spaces. His opening goal—a delicate dink over the keeper—was the highlight of the night, though he’ll need to watch his timing to stay onside more consistently.
SUBS: Jorrel Hato (6), Pedro Neto (7), Wesley Fofana (7), Liam Delap (6).