Leeds went ahead in the 33rd minute after superb work from Brenden Aaronson who was able to tap the ball home into an empty net after brilliant pressing on keeper Edouard Mendy led to the Chelsea stopper losing possession barely one yard out.
Jesse Marsch's Whites then doubled their lead just four minutes later as the thriving Rodrigo headed home his fourth goal of the season from a Jack Harrison free-kick.
And Leeds capped a superb display and easily their best yet under boss Jesse Marsch when Harrison converted from close range following another rapid Whites break in the 69th minute.
Chelsea's afternoon then got even worse in the 85th minute when the already-booked Kalidou Koulibaly was sent off after hauling down substitute Joe Gelhardt which earned the Blues defender a second yellow.
Here, Graham Smyth, the YEP’s chief football writer, hands out the scores from a memorable afternoon at Elland Road, accompanied with live match pictures from Getty Images.
13. Luis Sinisterra (sub)
7 - A nice way to ease yourself in at Elland Road. Showed a desire to get on the ball but is clearly going to need time to get up to his level. Photo: Catherine Ivill
14. Mateusz Klich (sub)
N/A - Was making a nuisance of himself even before he came on and didn't change tack. Disrupted off the ball, mostly with fouls. Photo: Will Russell
15. Sam Greenwood (sub)
N/A - Showed a hard-nosed attitude to defending that Reece James didn't appreciate. Got stuck in from the off in his cameo. Photo: OLI SCARFF
16. Joe Gelhardt (sub)
N/A - Wasn't on the pitch long before his run past Koulibaly provoked the red card. Added a little chaos up top for the final minutes. Photo: Chris Hyde
17. Stuart Attwell (referee)
7 - He and his assistants got a few throw-ins wrong, and a goal-kick award to Chelsea but not much else. Kept a lid on simmering niggles. Photo: PAUL ELLIS