Leeds United brilliantly fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Chelsea on Tuesday. Second-half goals from Lukas Nmecha and substitute Noah Okafor earned another massive point on the road as Daniel Farke’s side showed their resilience.
The Whites looked to absorb early pressure but after a few warning signs, Cole Palmer found too much space and slipped a pass into Joao Pedro who dinked a lovely finish over Karl Darlow on 24 minutes. Palmer doubled Chelsea’s lead from the spot on 58 minutes after Jaka Bijol’s needless foul, the Leeds defender pushing Pedro in the back just like two Wolves defenders did last weekend.
A foul on Jayden Bogle in the box allowed Nmecha to pull one back for Leeds from 12 yards with 25 minutes to go, the striker rifling his effort into the net as Robert Sanchez went the wrong way. Bogle then caused chaos in the Chelsea box with Noah Okafor the beneficiary, tapping in for 2-2. Palmer then missed a late sitter from two yards and the spoils were shared.
YEP chief football writer Graham Smyth was at Stamford Bridge to watch the action. Here are his Leeds United player ratings...
7. CM: Ethan Ampadu
7 - Couldn't give Leeds enough control in the middle in the first half but was aggressive and dug in, especially towards the end as Chelsea pressed for a winner. | AFP via Getty Images
8. CM: Ilia Gruev
6 - Chasing shadows in the first half. Got on the ball to good effect at times in the second half and never stopped running. | Getty Images
9. RW: Jayden Bogle
8 - Looked lost at times in the first half. Looked like a man possessed in the second. Won the penalty and then forced the ball to Okafor for the equaliser. Tremendous second half. | AFP via Getty Images
10. LW: Brenden Aaronson
7 - Not in the game in the first half. Pressed and ran and harried for the duration though and played his part in the second. | AFP via Getty Images
11. ST: Lukas Nmecha
6 - Struggled to give Leeds a platform in the first half but battled continuously. Won a few duels to help Leeds turn the tide in the second half. Took his penalty well. | Getty Images
12. Sub: Noah Okafor
7 - Bright, lively, aggressive and showed some tidy touches. In the right place to score. Gave the ball away dangerously in the middle. | Getty Images