Chelsea squandered a fine chance to go ahead in the 16th minute through Kai Havertz who was played in one-on-one but failed to beat Illan Meslier who stuck out an arm to save the forward's attempt at a dinked finish.
The frame of the goal then saved Leeds in the 22nd minute as a rising effort from Joao Felix from the edge of the box cannoned back off the crossbar. The Blues wasted another good opening in the 32nd minute when Ben Chilwell sent a volley wide with only Meslier to beat from just inside the box as the first half ended goalless.
Chelsea made a bright start to the second half and Raheem Sterling stabbed an effort over the bar before Enzo Fernandez also sent a free-kick over. But the hosts bagged what proved the only goal of the game in the 53rd minute as Wesley Fofana produced a huge leap to outjump Weston McKennie and head home a Ben Chilwell corner.
Leeds attempted to rally but Georginio Rutter could only fire a shot straight at Benoit Badiashile after being picked out by a Luke Ayling cross in the middle of the box after Sterling had fired just over in search of a Blues second. United's final chance then fell to keeper Illan Meslier who went up for a 94th-minute corner and sent in a header that was saved.
Graham Smyth, the YEP’s chief football writer, hands out the scores from a 13th defeat of the season for the Whites.
![6 - Thought about coming for the corner and those steps made it easier for the winner to go over him. Made a huge one-on-one save in the first half.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmNkZGZlODU3LTkwNjktNDlhYS1iMzZmLTcyMmFlOGJkMGQ1MjoyNDBlMWZlNC0yNGViLTRiM2YtODk2NS1mZmI5M2YzODE3Njg=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1. Illan Meslier
6 - Thought about coming for the corner and those steps made it easier for the winner to go over him. Made a huge one-on-one save in the first half. Photo: Catherine Ivill
![7 - Some important defending, got forward to help the attack.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmIyOTA4OTY3LTRjNDAtNDUwMS04MmZkLWUwZWU0ZWExMmZlZDo0MmJhMmYxOC00Nzg1LTRjOTUtOWM3MC1mNTljODA4ODhhNWM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
2. Luke Ayling
7 - Some important defending, got forward to help the attack. Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS
![7 - Solid. Got on the ball well to help Leeds finally grow into it in the first half.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjE5ODNmNDU2LWYxMjYtNDY0Mi1iOGUyLTlhZDEyZGMzMTNhZDo5YzY2OTJmOS1hYjc2LTQ3OGItOTA0Ny1lMWE2MjVkY2M0MmM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. Robin Koch
7 - Solid. Got on the ball well to help Leeds finally grow into it in the first half. Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS
![7 - Similar story to his defensive partner. Some big tackles and interventions.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmZlYmI0ODNmLWMxMWItNGY4Mi04MzdiLTkyNDNiMjlmYzYzOTo3MGMyMDhiZi1mMTg4LTQxNTctYTdkZC0yZmJiYzQ0M2Y4YTc=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. Max Wober
7 - Similar story to his defensive partner. Some big tackles and interventions. Photo: Clive Rose
![7 - Tried his best to get Leeds up the pitch and create. Big effort, just couldn't make the difference. Defended well enough.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmRjMjQzOWU1LTk2ZmItNDA4My1iZGZhLWY0YmQ3NWJlNzdmYzpjZDYyOTUxMS1lYzQzLTQ5ZGUtODMwMS1kNjVhYjRlMDFhYjY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
5. Junior Firpo
7 - Tried his best to get Leeds up the pitch and create. Big effort, just couldn't make the difference. Defended well enough. Photo: Catherine Ivill
![6 - He and McKennie looked outnumbered a lot of the time early on. Couldn't get much going.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjU4ZWFhMjczLTg2NjktNDAxZC05YTYxLTRjNDI2ODMyYTgwOTo4MDk2YzlkNC1iMjI0LTQ1ZjEtODJjMC1kOWQwYjlmOTM0ZmY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
6. Tyler Adams
6 - He and McKennie looked outnumbered a lot of the time early on. Couldn't get much going. Photo: Catherine Ivill