SOCCER: Chelsea... 3 Leeds... 2: Frank Lampard led a spirited revival for Chelsea last night after Leeds twice led against the run of play. It was Leeds who had ended the Blues' good run of form the Saturday after Christmas when they inflicted a 2-0 defeat at Elland Road and Claudio Ranieri's team showed they were determined to exact what the manager had described as "sporting revenge" on Terry Venables' team.
The midfielder rifled in an 80th-minute equaliser after the substitute Boudewijn Zenden had somehow managed to pull back a cross right on the goalline.
And he forced the winner three minutes later when his left-foot shot across the face of goal was deflected in by the Leeds captain Dominic Matteo.
Claudio Ranieri tinkered with his team, restoring Marcel Desailly after the captain's ban among three changes.
Mario Melchiot was the defender to make way - rather than John Terry - with William Gallas switching to the right to protect against any speedy incursions by Harry Kewell.
Despite a flurry of early and encouraging Chelsea attacks, the defensive change was made to look foolish in the 18th minute when Kewell embarrassed Terry with a magnificent cameo of skill.
If beautifully executed, the goal was mundane in conception. Paul Robinson lashed a free-kick from deep within his own half, Mark Viduka headed on and Kewell chested the ball down to his left foot, which flicked it past Carlo Cudicini almost in one breathtaking movement.
Chelsea resumed the offensive, only to suffer the frustration of another badly wasted opportunity.
Graeme Le Saux, who earlier had seen a scuffed shot pushed aside by Robinson, now tried from longer range. Robinson diverted again, Eidur Gudjohnsen saw Danny Mills clear desperately and Jody Morris, despite taking aim, drove well wide.
It was a worse miss than Frank Lampard's whose third minute miscue wasted Gallas's low cross. Gianfranco Zola also held his headwhen his 25-yard shot was parried by the Leeds goalkeeper.
Celestine Babayaro was clearly hurt after a lunge from Eirik Bakke which brought the Leeds midfielder a booking. Chelsea's head coach tinkered again, taking off his left back and throwing on the giant teenager Carlton Cole.
The offensive intensified.
But the wisdom of Cole's introduction was in doubt five minutes later when the 19-year-old striker was booked for retaliating after a rough challenge from Mills.
Le Saux soon followed with a caution for dissent and Chelsea's first-half exasperation reached new heights when a sudden 25-yard shot from Gallas was again parried by Robinson.
Jesper Gronkjaer's surges down the right had been an eye-catching if unproductive feature of the first half. Chelsea needed something different down this side after the break. They duly got it, but not from the flying Dane.
Instead, it was Lampard. The midfielder delivered at full stretch and his cross was met 12 yards out by a wonderful scissors-kick from Gudjohnsen which sent the ball emphatically past Robinson.
Stamford Bridge exulted but their joy was short-lived as Leeds demonstrated they still had attacking menace of their own.
A low cross from Kewell ran tantalisingly across the face of the goal before a Viduka volley brought a save from Cudicini.
But, in the 66th minute, Leeds were not to be denied. Alan Smith's corner from the right was touched on by Kewell for Teddy Lucic to slip home at the far post.
However, Lampard - and the unfortunate Matteo - secured the points for the home side.
CHELSEA: Cudicini, Babayaro (Cole 35), Desailly, Terry, Gallas, Le Saux, Morris, Lampard, Gronkjaer, Gudjohnsen, Zola (Zenden 67). Subs Not Used: de Goey, Melchiot, Petit. Booked: Cole, Le Saux. Goals: Gudjohnsen 57, Lampard 80, Matteo 83 og.
LEEDS: Robinson, Kelly, Mills, Matteo, Lucic, Wilcox, Bakke, Okon (Seth Johnson 68), Smith, Viduka (Milner 80), Kewell. Subs Not Used: Martyn, Harte, Radebe. Booked: Bakke. Goals: Kewell 18, Lucic 66.
Referee: J Winter (Cleveland).
