Chelsea humbled by thrilling Leeds, Brighton consolidate West Ham early season misery
Leeds - Chelsea
A frantic start at Elland Road was perhaps to be expected after Leeds’ impressive start to the season, but despite plenty of Leeds huff and puff, they created little in the final third. Chelsea reminded the hosts they were in a game inside 15 minutes, when Raheem Sterling latched onto Marc Cucurella’s measured pass before planting the ball into the bottom corner, only for the lineman’s flag to cut short his celebrations. Leeds continued to probe for an opener and found one in comical circumstances, when a laboured Édouard Mendy had his pocket picked on his own goal line by Brenden Aaronson, who had the simplest of tasks to walk the ball into the net.
The half undoubtedly belonged to Leeds, and Jesse Marsch’s side doubled their advantage just moments later when Rodrigo Moreno flicked home Jack Harrison’s free-kick to become only the second Leeds player in history to score in their opening three games of a PL season. Thomas Tuchel will undoubtedly have torn the strips off the away dressing room walls at Elland Road, and Chelsea stepped out for the second half with a renewed optimism. Reece James forced Illan Meslier into action with a fierce drive from the edge of the area, before Kalidou Koulibaly headed the resulting corner into the arms of the French stopper.
Any jitters in the Leeds ranks were laid to rest 20 minutes from time, when Dan James cross was met by Rodrigo, who inadvertently put the ball on a plate for Harrison to prod home his first goal of the season. Having squandered a two goal at Southampton last week, the importance of that third goal can’t be understated from a Leeds point of view. It gave them a platform to control the game and also withdraw some of their big-hitters with ten minutes to play ahead of a midweek Carabao Cup Yorkshire Derby against Barnsley. As for Chelsea, it was a bad day at the office, compounded by the sending off of Koulibaly six minutes from time.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Jack Harrison (Leeds United)
West Ham - Brighton
West Ham came into this game looking to score their first goal of the PL campaign, having failed to do so in their first two games of the season for the first time since 1993. While they started on the front foot and had a few good chances down both wings, it was the Hammers who found themselves behind after 21 minutes. Danny Welbeck was sent through with a fantastic long ball and as the striker strode into the box he was hacked down by debutant Thilo Kehrer. Alexis Mac Allister stepped up to send Łukasz Fabiański the wrong way and slotted the ball into the bottom right of the goal.
The goal was the only shot on target in the first-half, with both sides unable to find that key pass, as West Ham continued to struggle with a lot of Brighton’s deeper balls into their half. David Moyes’ men looked to respond after the break and started off the more positive in the second half as they pressed for an equaliser.
Brighton remained calm and slowly built momentum, which was rewarded in the 66th minute. Pascal Groß received the ball as Kurt Zouma approached from behind, with the experienced midfielder flicking the ball through as he was fouled to the ground. Leandro Trossard stormed onto the ball, and with all the time needed he put his shot back across Fabiański and into the bottom left to double the lead.
It’ll be hard for Graham Potter to find an issue with his side's performance as they climb to the UEFA Champions League places, making it six wins out of seven against last season's top seven. Meanwhile, the visitors have a lot to think about, with the Hammers losing their three opening games, failing to score a single goal, sitting bottom of the table as a result.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Leandro Trossard (Brighton & Hove Albion)
