Football Feb 11, 2026

Chelsea 2-2 Leeds: Liam Rosenior's side throw away two-goal lead and miss chance to go fourth

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Chelsea 2-2 Leeds: Liam Rosenior's side throw away two-goal lead and miss chance to go fourth

Cole Palmer missed a stoppage-time sitter after Chelsea threw away a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw with Leeds United as Liam Rosenior's side passed up the chance to go fourth in the Premier League.

Stamford Bridge was in a state of disbelief when Palmer skied over from point-blank range in the dying seconds. He could - and should - have won it after Leeds clawed their way back from a seemingly impossible position. This was an opportunity missed for Chelsea.

"He's in the position, 999 times out of 1,000 he scores," Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior said of Palmer. "It was just that one in 1,000 moment."

Chelsea will be scratching their heads over how they let their lead slip. Palmer had scored from the spot to make it 2-0 just before the hour after setting up Joao Pedro for his chipped first-half opener. They were cruising and Leeds were all over the place.

On course for a fifth straight league win under Rosenior, Chelsea capitulated by conceding two sloppy goals in six second-half minutes. Lukas Nmecha's penalty and substitute Noah Okafor's equaliser were Leeds' only shots on target of the game.

Daniel Farkes' side, without top scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin at Chelsea due to illness, move above Tottenham in the table up to 15th and remain six points clear of the drop zone thanks to Manchester United snatching a late 1-1 draw at West Ham.

That last-gasp Benjamin Sesko goal at West Ham kept Chelsea in fifth on what can only be described as an exasperating night for Rosenior, who remains unbeaten after five league games.

There was no doubt about referee Rob Jones' decision to award a spot-kick when Jaka Bijol inexplicably pushed Joao Pedro in the back for Chelsea's second goal.

It was a carbon copy of the penalties Chelsea won at Wolves on Saturday. Palmer, as he did twice at Molineux, finished with ease, sending Karl Darlow the wrong way.

However, both of Leeds' goals came from officiating decisions that were questioned by former Premier League referee Mike Dean.

Okafor's 73rd-minute equaliser was allowed to stand despite the ball clearly hitting Jayden Bogle's elbow in the build-up. VAR was powerless to intervene after the referee failed to award a free-kick because Bogle's intervention did not lead directly to the goal.

"It's hit Bogle's elbow," Dean said on Soccer Special. "I was surprised it wasn't disallowed. I can only assume they think it's accidental."

Chelsea had more than enough opportunity to deal with the situation but failed to clear the initial, hopeful ball over the top before allowing Okafor to pop up and poke home an equaliser to send the travelling fans wild.

Nmecha had earlier pulled a goal back for Leeds from a penalty that Bogle won after going down under a challenge from Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo that Dean deemed to be soft.

"It looked a bit harsh," said Dean. "Bogle kind of kicks the back of Caicedo."

Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior to TNT Sports on Leeds' equaliser:

"At the time I did [think the ball touched Bogle's arm]. If there's any contact, it should be disallowed.

"The rule is the rule. From my understanding, if there's any handball in the lead up to a goal, it shouldn't stand. So if they've said [it was not deliberate] then someone explain the rules to me. They need to help the referee.

"You saying that [the officials said it was not deliberate] has only got me angrier. That's unacceptable if they've come with that judgement."

Premier League rules state a goal should only be disallowed for handball if the offence directly leads to the goal, or the goal is scored immediately after the offence.

Bogle's handball did not directly lead to the goal, and Chelsea had chances to clear the ball before Okafor scored. The only way Bogle could have been punished for the offence was if Jones gave a foul for the handball at the time.

Leeds boss Daniel Farke to TNT Sports:

"Very proud. Difficult game for us. We had to change our back five.

"Two-nil down, we gave gifts away. But to show such mentality to come back, the boys did us proud.

"We fought so hard for this point and it's deserved.

"We dug in for the last five minutes and maybe we were a bit lucky. But it's a fantastic outcome in the circumstances."

Tags:

football report

Share this article

Related Posts

Newcastle 3-2 Qarabag (Agg 9-3): Eddie Howe's men reach Champions League last 16

Newcastle 3-2 Qarabag (Agg 9-3): Eddie Howe's men reach Champions League last 16

Newcastle confirmed their place in the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time after beating Qarabag 3-2, completing a 9-3 aggregate victor...

Champions League: Premier League clubs to learn last-16 opponents in Friday's draw

Champions League: Premier League clubs to learn last-16 opponents in Friday's draw

The Champions League last-16 picture is becoming clearer ahead of Friday's draw.Newcastle know they will face Chelsea or Barcelona after seeing off Qa...

Ray Power on life as a coach confidant: Being a sounding board to elite football managers and what he has learned from it

Ray Power on life as a coach confidant: Being a sounding board to elite football managers and what he has learned from it

They say it is the loneliest job in football. Maybe they are right. “I have had managers admit to me that they have sat in the car on the way home, pu...

Eric Ramsay sacked: West Brom part company with boss after failing to win in eight league games

Eric Ramsay sacked: West Brom part company with boss after failing to win in eight league games

West Brom have sacked Eric Ramsay just 44 days after appointing him as head coach.Ramsay replaced Ryan Mason in January after moving from MLS side Min...

Manchester United can finish third in Premier League table as Jamie Carragher says club are 'guaranteed Champions League football'

Manchester United can finish third in Premier League table as Jamie Carragher says club are 'guaranteed Champions League football'

Jamie Carragher believes Champions League qualification is "guaranteed" for Manchester United this season following their 1-0 win against Everton on M...

Leah Williamson: England Women's captain claims players could go on strike over schedule concerns

Leah Williamson: England Women's captain claims players could go on strike over schedule concerns

England captain Leah Williamson suggested players would be willing to go on strike if their concerns over player welfare and playing schedules aren't...