A howler from Edouard Mendy helped Leeds United stun Chelsea as the hosts seized a 3-0 victory in the Premier League at Elland Road.
The Blues goalkeeper put his side on the back foot when he allowed Brenden Aaronson to dispossess him inside his six-yard area midway through the first half for a simple tap in.
Further goals for Rodrigo – who nabbed his fourth of the season – and Jack Harrison cemented a famous win for Jesse Marsch’s men, who claimed a first triumph over their London rivals for almost two decades.
Thomas Tuchel – in the dugout despite his red card in last week’s London derby draw with Tottenham – will be left to wonder just how his side were so expertly unravelled under sunny skies in West Yorkshire.
Amid a high-energy start that saw the hosts hassle their visitors on and off the ball, Raheem Sterling thought he had curled an opener in just shy of the quarter-hour mark, only for the assistant referee’s flag to rule him offside.
That disallowed finish would come back to bite the Blues just beyond the half-hour when Mendy’s decision to dally with a backpass saw him pay dearly as Aaronson darted in to rob the Senegal international and roll the ball into the net.
60 – Today was Thomas Tuchel's 60th Premier League match; Chelsea conceded just 17 goals in the first 30 of these, but have shipped exactly twice as many in the last 30 (34). Concern. pic.twitter.com/aKLQCHRwbK
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 21, 2022
Just four minutes later, Leeds had Elland Road rocking further as they doubled their tally with Rodrigo’s header, the Spaniard powering home from Jack Harrison’s free-kick after Sterling had committed a foul just outside the box.
Chelsea resisted changes, and briefly it appeared as if Tuchel’s men could force a comeback, but when Harrison finished off Rodrigo’s knockdown with a quarter of the game to go, the result was sealed.
It was to get worse for the visitors, who ended the match a man down after Kalidou Koulibaly was shown a second yellow card for dragging down Joe Gelhardt, and Chelsea ultimately skulked from the field in the shadow of a famous Leeds win.
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