Leeds United 0-3 Chelsea: Blues close in on Champions League and leave Whites in bottom three
Leeds #Leeds
Twelve of Christian Pulisic’s 19 Premier League goals were scored away from home (63%)
Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch had a feeling of “deja vu” after his side conceded early and had a player sent off in the 3-0 defeat by Chelsea which keeps them in the relegation zone with two games to go.
Chelsea led through Mason Mount’s fourth-minute strike before Daniel James was shown a straight red card for a dangerous high tackle on Mateo Kovacic.
Christian Pulisic and Romelu Lukaku added to Chelsea’s lead as they close in on sealing a Champions League spot.
On Sunday, Leeds conceded twice in the first 10 minutes against Arsenal and had Luke Ayling sent off in a 2-1 defeat.
“I’m gutted. We give up an early goal and go down a man again – deja vu,” Marsch told BBC Sport.
“We don’t get a chance to stay in the game and see if we can test ourselves and come away with more. We lose another player.
“Two tackles in the last two games that were a little bit crossing the line and hurting the team. I’m not going to blame or finger point any of our players. They’ve given everything they can. We have to stay within boundaries in not jeopardising ourselves.”
Leeds also became the first team to ever receive 100 yellow or red cards in a Premier League season.
Mount scored the game’s opening goal with a lovely first-time effort from outside the box from Reece James’ cut-back at the end of a nice passing move.
Kovacic had to be replaced because of an ankle injury following the foul by James. “It looks swollen and painful. It’s the same ankle he had injured already. It doesn’t look good,” said Blues boss Thomas Tuchel.
Pulisic slotted Mount’s pass into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Lukaku – who earlier had a goal disallowed – scored the third goal that the Blues’ dominance deserved as he took his time to hold off three defenders and smash home.
Leeds offered very little and their hopes of staying up are out of their hands. They are behind 17th-placed Burnley on goal difference and two points off Everton, and have played a game more than both.
Chelsea only need to beat one of Leicester or Watford – or hope Tottenham do not win all three remaining games – to clinch a place in next season’s Champions League. But for now their focus turns to Saturday’s FA Cup final against Liverpool.
Is the end nigh for Leeds? James red-card tackle ‘crossing the line’ – Marsch
Leeds replacing their legendary boss Marcelo Bielsa with Marsch in February has brought no real upturn in fortunes.
Ill-discipline cost them again with James shown a fully-deserved red card for a bad foul on Kovacic – who was booed by home fans as he limped off to be replaced by Ruben Loftus-Cheek. That was their third red of the season (on top of a record 97 yellows) and their second in four days.
Leeds now need to get something from games with Brighton and Brentford – without Ayling or James – and hope Burnley or Everton slip up above them.
Leeds have conceded 37 goals in their home league games this season, their second worst ever record in a top-flight campaign.
They could perhaps deal with those struggles better if they were scoring more goals – but they only had five shots at Elland Road, none on target.
Job almost done for Chelsea ‘Very strong’ Chelsea deserved to win – Tuchel
Chelsea, who have been comfortable in third place for most of the season, looked to be cruising towards the Champions League places but a run of three games without a win might have seen a tiny bit of doubt creep in.
They could be guaranteed a top-four place by the time they go to Wembley on Saturday if Spurs do not beat Arsenal on Thursday.
Thomas Tuchel’s side were deserved winners and could have scored more, with Lukaku having six shots alone.
The Belgian continued his revival with his third goal in two Premier League games. He had only netted four in his first 22.
In Mount – involved in the first two goals – Chelsea have a star. With 11 goals and 10 assists he is only the fifth (and youngest) Chelsea player to reach double figures in both in a Premier League season, after Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Juan Mata and Eden Hazard.
“We were very focused,” said Tuchel. “Even against 11 players we were clearly the better team. I felt the team were very committed, focused and calm. I had a good feeling.
“I was happy with how we played and how the players reacted after Saturday’s late equaliser [in the 2-2 draw with Wolves]. We trusted ourselves but it was necessary to clear the air and refocus.”
Player of the match
MountMason Mount
Leeds United
Squad number1Player nameMeslier
Squad number23Player namePhillips
Squad number6Player nameCooper
Squad number10Player nameRaphinha
Squad number5Player nameKoch
Squad number14Player nameLlorente
Squad number26Player nameBate
Squad number21Player nameStruijk
Squad number19Player nameRodrigo
Squad number22Player nameHarrison
Squad number3Player nameFirpo
Squad number30Player nameGelhardt
Squad number20Player nameJames
Squad number43Player nameKlich
Chelsea
Squad number19Player nameMount
Squad number24Player nameJames
Squad number10Player namePulisic
Squad number9Player nameLukaku
Squad number22Player nameZiyech
Squad number12Player nameLoftus-Cheek
Squad number14Player nameChalobah
Squad number16Player nameMendy
Squad number8Player nameKovacic
Squad number2Player nameRüdiger
Squad number28Player nameAzpilicueta
Squad number5Player nameJorginho
Squad number3Player nameAlonso
Squad number4Player nameChristensen
Line-ups Leeds
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Meslier
5Koch14Llorente6Cooper21Struijk
23Phillips26Bate
10Raphinha20James22Harrison
19Rodrigo
Substitutes
Chelsea
Formation 3-4-2-1
16Mendy
14Chalobah4Christensen2Rüdiger
24James5Jorginho8Kovacic3Alonso
19Mount10Pulisic
9Lukaku
Substitutes
Live Text
Match ends, Leeds United 0, Chelsea 3.
90’+4′
Second Half ends, Leeds United 0, Chelsea 3.
90’+4′
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Liam Cooper.
90’+1′
Foul by César Azpilicueta (Chelsea).
90’+1′
Junior Firpo (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90′
Attempt missed. Mason Mount (Chelsea) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Hakim Ziyech following a corner.
89′
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Diego Llorente.
89′
Attempt blocked. Mateusz Klich (Leeds United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
88′
Foul by Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea).
88′
Joe Gelhardt (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
88′
Foul by Andreas Christensen (Chelsea).
88′
Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
86′
Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
86′
Foul by Robin Koch (Leeds United).
86′
Attempt missed. Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Ruben Loftus-Cheek following a fast break.
84′
Attempt missed. Robin Koch (Leeds United) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Joe Gelhardt with a cross.
84′
Foul by Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea).
84′
Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
83′
Goal! Leeds United 0, Chelsea 3. Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Hakim Ziyech.
81′
Offside, Chelsea. César Azpilicueta tries a through ball, but Romelu Lukaku is caught offside.
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