Chelsea led by two goals against Leeds United at Stamford Bridge, but Daniel Farke’s side fought back and a controversial equalizer forced an explanation from the Premier League.
Noah Okafor celebrates the equalizer between Leeds United and Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, but it wasn’t without controversy (Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
The Premier League has confirmed why Leeds United’s late equalizer against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge was allowed in the stands despite a call for handball in the build-up from the home side.
Chelsea built a comfortable two-goal lead with goals from Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer either side of half-time. They were heading for a win with the potential to move into the top four of the Premier League.
However, Leeds showed their fighting spirit with Lucas Nmeka scoring one from the penalty spot and Okafor leveled the score with 17 minutes left with a close-range finish.
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The hosts campaigned a handball with Jayden Bogle, who was heavily involved in the build-up holding off a number of Blues defenders, before Okafor found space to apply his finishing touch.
However, written confirmation from the Premier League explains why the equalizing goal was allowed.
A post from Premier League Match Center on X, formerly Twitter, read: “The referee’s goal call for Leeds United was checked and confirmed by VAR. It was deemed that there was no handball foul by Bogle during the build-up.”
Chelsea protested Leeds United’s equalizer in the 2-2 stalemate at Stamford Bridge (Image: Warren Little/Getty Images)
Chelsea’s protests began before Bogle entered his own 18-yard box, but Bogle then struggled to force Rob Sanchez into a save.
The visiting defender then forced the ball to Okafor, who fired a shot into an empty net and ran off to celebrate with the traveling Leeds fans in a corner of Stamford Bridge.
The recognition of this goal appeared to have caused a major shake-up in the Premier League standings at the end of Tuesday’s match.
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Chelsea still sit in fourth place thanks to the fact that Manchester United caught up with West Ham in the late-evening kick-off, but they have not been able to put all their pressure on their arch-rivals Manchester City and Aston Villa.
The current scoreline at the London Stadium means Farke’s side remain four points above the Premier League drop zone.
