In a moment of stunned silence at Stamford Bridge, Cole Palmer produced a prime candidate for the mistake of the season in the final seconds of Chelsea’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Leeds United.
The England international, usually acerbic in front of goal, found the back of the net from close range to give the Blues a vital victory as they look to qualify for the Champions League.
Chelsea could have won with Cole Palmer in stoppage time
The mistake occurred in the 94th minute of a thrilling encounter.
After Chelsea had conceded a two-goal lead, Moises Caicedo broke into the right side of the penalty area and delivered a perfectly weighted, low cross into the front of the six-yard box.
Cole Palmer, standing unmarked and just a yard out, looked certain to score his fifth goal in two games.
However, the 23-year-old was unable to connect with the ball properly and sent the ball flying over the crossbar and into the shed end, shocking everyone around him.
Palmer remained hunched over the net with his head in his hands for several seconds as manager Liam Rosenior watched in disbelief from the touchline.
It was a rare human error for a player who has already scored four hat-tricks in the Premier League this season.
Leeds United attack Chelsea again
This result ensured that Leeds United will remain Chelsea’s ‘bogey team’ for the 2025-26 season.
Daniel Farke’s side had already brought the Blues to their knees with a 3-1 win at Elland Road in December, but they showed similar resilience here to ensure a second successive league defeat.
Chelsea looked to be on track as Joao Pedro’s goal and Palmer’s penalty gave them a 2-0 lead.
However, Leeds’ lively fightback saw Lucas Nmeka convert a penalty and Noah Okafor took advantage of a defensive mix-up between Robert Sanchez and Josh Achiampong to equalize.
The points moved Leeds four points clear of the relegation zone, but the night will be remembered for Palmer’s horror late mistake. This is a moment that could derail Chelsea’s top-four aspirations come May.
