Chelsea reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup after beating Leeds United in a five-goal thriller at Stamford Bridge.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men came from behind and bagged a late winner to cap an exciting cut tie.
Chelsea got off to a bad start
Chelsea went behind early on after being caught trying to pass out of the back minutes into the game, however.
Axel Disasi attempted a pass to Moises Caicedo on the edge of his own box, but it was intercepted by Archie Gray. Jaidon Anthony took the loose ball and quickly found Mateo Joseph unmarked in the area. He fired home from close range, giving Petrovic no chance.
A bad start for Chelsea, but they did eventually respond with a well-worked Nicolas Jackson goal after 15 minutes.
Jackson found Noni Madueke on the edge of the box, and he laid the ball first-time to Moises Caicedo. Jackson continued his run into the area and was found on the right with a slide-rule pass from Caicedo. Despite the tricky angle, Jackson managed to slot the ball under Illan Meslier to equalise.
Madueke then came close to giving Chelsea the lead after picking up the ball in the area. He brilliantly evaded two challenges but fired into the side netting.
Chelsea did finally make the breakthrough before half time and it was another brilliantly-worked goal. Malo Gusto was found on the right by Madueke and fed Raheem Sterling down the flank. He cut the ball back to Mykhailo Mudryk who converted the cross first-time in the 37th minute.
Leeds put up a good fight but couldn’t hold on
Leeds fought back in the second-half, with Joseph bagging his second of the game. Anthony whipped in a brilliant cross from the left that Joseph headed home before the hour mark.
Chelsea weren’t to be undone though. The Blues left it very late, but they found a winner thanks to Connor Gallagher. In the 90th minute, Enzo Fernandez picked his head up and saw Gallagher make a run between the defence.
Gallagher was put through on goal, collecting the ball on the half-turn, and coolly slotted past Meslier. Chelsea sealed their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup in emphatic fashion. They will now face Leicester City at home on March 16.
In other news, Mauricio Pochettino is under pressure after Chelsea’s EFL Cup final defeat
