Chelsea fight back from 2-0 down to beat Leeds 6-3

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Chelsea’s English striker #18 Danny Welbeck celebrates scoring the team’s fourth goal with Chelsea’s English defender #24 Reece James (R) during the English League Cup third round football match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge, in London on September 9, 2026. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /

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Chelsea fought back from two goals down to beat Leeds 6-3 as Cole Palmer and Danny Welbeck rescued the Blues in a League Cup third-round classic on Wednesday.

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Xabi Alonso’s side were in danger of crashing out following Tarik Muharemovic’s first-half opener and a Brenden Aaronson goal soon after the interval at Stamford Bridge.

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But Alonso sent on England forward Palmer, along with Morgan Rogers, Pedro Neto and Reece James, at half-time and the decision inspired Chelsea’s stirring escape act.

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Palmer struck twice to haul Chelsea level and Neto put them ahead before Welbeck made it four.

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Dominic Calvert-Lewin got one back for Leeds, but Valentin Barco and Welbeck netted to ensure Chelsea moved into the fourth round in style.

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Losing 2-1 at Premier League champions Arsenal on Sunday had ended Alonso’s three-game winning start to his reign.

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But the Chelsea boss got back on track with the kind of chaotic victory that has defined his brief spell in charge.

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Chelsea have scored 16 goals in Alonso’s first five matches to showcase their attacking talent.

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But they have conceded 10 to prove the defensive issues that plagued them last season have not gone away since Alonso’s arrival.

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Despite spending £349 million ($472 million) during the transfer window, Chelsea ended the Arsenal game with James and Malo Gusto — two players who are usually right-backs — operating in central midfield.

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Alonso fielded another untested alignment in the midfield engine room as teenage debut Reggie Watson lined up alongside Argentine youngster Barco.

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The 16-year-old Watson — the fourth youngest player in Chelsea’s history — is the son of Ben Watson, who scored Wigan’s FA Cup final winner against Manchester City in 2013.

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Alonso’s decision to make nine changes was in danger of backfiring when Leeds went in front from a 23rd-minute corner.

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– Chelsea goal spree –

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Harry Wilson’s delivery to the far post caught Chelsea flat-footed and Bosnia defender Muharemovic powered a header past Mike Penders for his first Leeds goal.

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Leeds seemed unfazed by the introduction of Chelsea’s stars at the interval and they struck again in the 48th minute.

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Ethan Ampadu’s cross was flicked on by Lukas Nmecha and Aaronson finished with aplomb.

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But Chelsea earned a crucial lifeline five minutes later when Daniel James’s soft challenge on Pep Chavarria was deemed worthy of a penalty that Palmer stroked home.

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Just two minutes later, Chelsea were level when Palmer’s shot trickled past Leeds’ debutant goalkeeper Michael Zetterer.

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Suddenly, Chelsea were rampant and Neto curled their third goal beyond Zetterer from 20 yards in the 60th minute.

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Alonso’s men made it four goals in the space of just 12 minutes as Welbeck turned and smashed a powerful strike past Zetterer’s weak attempted save.

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Calvert-Lewin reduced the deficit in the 75th minute with a clinical finish from Noah Okafor’s pass.

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But Barco swept into the empty net after Zetterer made a hash of Rogers’s cross in the 80th minute.

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And Welbeck rounded off the goal spree in stoppage time with a cushioned header from Barco’s shot.

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League Cup holders Manchester City and Premier League champions Arsenal play their third-round ties next week against Norwich and Ipswich respectively.

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Liverpool, who host Tottenham, and Manchester United, who welcome Brighton to Old Trafford, are also in action next week.

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Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Sunderland and Bradford all advanced to the fourth round on Tuesday.

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