adminWhere to start with that one? A game that will certainly go down in the annals of League Cup history with nine goals scored in a 6-3 thriller, but Leeds United were to be on the wrong end.
Ultimately, though, the game hinged on one incident – the penalty for Chelsea. Daniel James can feel harshly treated for being penalised for his foul on Pep Chavarria, four minutes after Brenden Aaronson had put Leeds 2-0 up, even if by the letter of the law the decision was valid.
Daniel Farke said the decision came completely out of the blue – arguing that no Chelsea player had appealed – and was adamant that this moment altered the course of the entire game.
Leeds felt they should have been awarded a spot kick when Noah Okafor – the most productive substitute – was brought down after being clattered into just inside the area at 5-3. Farke told BBC Radio Leeds afterwards that the referee acknowledged he had made an error over the call and apologised.
Of course, that does not aid Leeds’ cause. The more obvious controversy surrounds the first penalty decision. Yet Leeds themselves did little to help their situation amid the comeback that followed.
Defensive collapse
It was so unlike Leeds. A defence that has been so dependable this season was torn apart after the penalty, which was converted by Cole Palmer. In the space of 12 minutes, Leeds had gone from 2-0 ahead to 3-2 behind.
Of course, credit must be given to the quality of Xabi Alonso’s half-time substitutions; £42.5m Palmer scored again before £51.4m Pedro Neto curled one into the far post in a goal that was not too dissimilar. But Leeds themselves were also at fault.
Palmer’s second came from a throw-in that was poorly dealt with. Danny Welbeck’s first and Chelsea’s fourth saw the hosts break through Leeds’ left and deliver the ball inside, one swift movement from the striker sending Jaka Bijol sprawling and others off-balance.
Maybe debutant Michael Zetterer could have done better there, but he certainly should have for the fourth. His weak parry away from the cross allowed Argentine pantomime villain Valentine Barco to lash home into what was effectively an unguarded net.
As Farke said after full-time, cup matches can produce such bizarre encounters.
While it will raise some concern that the likes of Tarik Muharemovic and Bijol were on the pitch during the collapse, the previous four games – with just two goals conceded – have shown enough to suggest this was a one-off evening amid a much-changed side featuring eight alterations. There are no alarm bells ringing just yet.
Mixed debuts
Zetterer has to regard his first appearance as a disastrous one given six were fired past him. After a first half containing two comfortable saves, the ‘keeper was given a harsh awakening in the second period.
To be fair to the German, he cannot be held responsible for all six goals. He almost reached Palmer’s penalty and can claim he was unsighted by Jaka Bijol for the second. The third was simply an excellent finish from Neto.
However, the fourth went through him and, as mentioned, the fifth was his responsibility. The sixth, an instinctive if also fortunate deflection header from Barco’s wayward shot, cannot be blamed on him. But as debuts go, it is one he will not want to revisit.
Melvin Bard fared better. A shaky opening 20 minutes that included inaccurate passes and loose positioning – including leaving room for Estevao to get in, only for a brilliant James Justin tackle to intervene – left Farke frustrated more than once.
But the Frenchman – who did commit two fouls, won just 63% of his ground duels and none aerial – eventually settled and actually finished the game with an 87% pass completion rate, two successful dribbles and seven recoveries.
And he contributed to Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s goal, his tackle-pass sending Noah Okafor through to tee up the striker. He had to depart with cramp but can be satisfied with how he adapted and ultimately became one of the better players on the pitch.
A number of firsts
Spinning right back to the first goal, Harry Wilson claimed his first assist thanks to Tarik Muharemovic’s maiden Leeds goal. Wilson delivered a deep corner that Muharemovic headed home from the tightest of angles, having moments earlier been denied a header by Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders.
All the while, Calvert-Lewin registered his first goal away from home this season with his composed finish, meaning Okafor has recorded his first assist of the campaign. And Brenden Aaronson opened his account for the season.
There might be bigger subjects to discuss but there are positives to take from what was an unforgettable game for those in attendance.
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