Post-match reaction | Opta Index

Chelsea reignited their challenge for Champions League qualification - if not the title itself - with a deserved victory against fellow top-four contenders Leeds at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues, now two points behind David O'Leary's man, struck after just 95 seconds through Eidur Gudjohnsen and doubled their lead amid controversy just after the half hour when the ball appeared to hit Sam dalla Bona's arm before he fired home the second.

Whereas Chelsea were almost immediately behind in last week's Worthington Cup capitulation at Tottenham, this time they seized the lead after just 95 seconds.

The cutting edge was provided by Mario Stanic, who turned inside two defenders from the left flank and found Emmanuel Petit with a square ball.

The French midfielder then teed up Gudjohnsen, who had peeled into space at the edge of the penalty area, and produced a sublime left-foot finish on the turn that curled into the top corner.

Moments later, dalla Bona flashed a shot narrowly over as Chelsea defied the muddy pitch and the driving rain with a determined, flowing start.

However, Hasselbaink rolled a shot harmlessly wide and sent a free-kick over the top, while Leeds tried to haul themselves back into contention back they never got out of first gear - a fact that will have worried O'Leary more than anything.

After conceding early, Leeds did regoup, without ever giving Cudicini too much cause to sweat, and they were made to pay with the controversial second.

Mario Melchiot's long-throw was chested down by Hasselbaink, Jason Wilcox's attempted clearance struck dalla Bona's arm before he bundled a shot past Nigel Martyn.

Leeds protested furiously, with Wilcox being booked, and their problems continued as Seth Johnson limped off to be replaced by Robbie Keane, while Wilcox was fortunate to escape a second booking after two late tackles.

With John Terry in imperious form at the back, there was still only an intermitent threat on the home goal after the break, and Cudicini's parry of Gary Kelly's long-range effort was a rare occasion when he had to muddy his knees.

Chelsea were value for a third, and Gudjohnsen was a couple of yards off-target from the halfway line and Lampard's volley flashed wide

Leeds' night was summed up with six minutes left, when Cudicini spilled Kewell's low drive, but the Chelsea keeper recovered just in time to flick the ball off Mark Viduka's toe.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Melchiot, Terry, Desailly, Le Saux, Stanic, Lampard, Petit, Dalla Bona, Hasselbaink, Gudjohnsen (Forssell 83).
Subs Not Used: de Goey, Jokanovic, Ferrer, Zola.
Booked: Stanic.
 
Leeds: Martyn, Kelly, Woodgate (Harte 45), Ferdinand, Matteo, Bowyer, Batty, Johnson (Keane 38), Wilcox, Viduka, Fowler (Kewell 64).
Subs Not Used: Robinson, Dacourt.
Booked: Woodgate.

Att: 40,614
Ref: S Bennett (Kent) 

Opta Index (Match Stats)

Chelsea	Team	Leeds
2	Goals	0
3	Shots On Target (inc Goals)	3
8	Shots Off Target	2
1	Blocked Shots	7
5	Corners	6
12	Fouls	20
1	Offsides	6
1	Yellow Cards	2
0	Red Cards	0