Established 1961 Sport SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2021 Chelsea frustrated by Leeds stalemate LEEDS: Chelsea missed a chance to cement their place in the Premier League’s top four as Leeds held them to a frustrating 0-0 draw yesterday. Thomas Tuchel’s side had plenty of chances but couldn’t deliver the knockout blow in a hard-fought clash at Elland Road. The Blues remain in fourth place and fifth- placed West Ham are just three points behind them with two games in hand as the race to qualify for the Champions League looks set to go down to the wire. Tuchel is now unbeaten in 12 matches in all competitions since replacing the sacked Frank Lampard in January. With clean sheets in their last five games, Chelsea have conceded only two goals in that period. However, their goal-scoring issues under Tuchel resurfaced as oppor- tunities came and went in the Yorkshire rain. They have yet to score more than two goals in any match in the Tuchel era. Wednesday’s Champions League last 16 second leg against Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge-with Chelsea holding a 1-0 lead-will be another stern test of their renaissance under the former Paris Saint- Germain boss. Tuchel made six changes from Monday’s win against Everton as LEEDS: Chelsea’s French-born Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy saves a shot from Leeds United’s Brazilian midfielder Raphinha Dias Belloli during the English Premier League Christian Pulisic replaced Timo Werner football match between Leeds United and Chelsea at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England yesterday. — AFP after reports the United States winger was unhappy with his lack of action since Elland Road pitch was almost reminiscent turned in by Tyler Roberts, only for the Edouard Mendy tipped his curler onto close-range blast that Meslier palmed over the German took charge. On Friday, of the battles on fields of mud that offside flag to come to Chelsea’s rescue. the bar. early in the second half. Mendy saved well Tuchel had urged Pulisic to seize his defined Chelsea’s encounters with Leeds If that was a stroke of luck for Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell fired just when his former Rennes team-mate chance when it came, saying of a player in the 1970s. Chelsea, Leeds benefitted from their own wide from the edge of the area before Raphinha had a sight of goal from he worked with at Borussia Dortmund: good fortune moments later when Diego Mason Mount’s 25-yard drive was pushed Rodrigo’s knock down. “He is in my plans. When the moment Stroke of luck Llorente whacked a clearance against out by Meslier. Havertz finally delivered an Chilwell had a golden opportunity to comes you have to be ready.” Pulisic wasn’t fazed by the rutted sur- team-mate Luke Ayling, with the ball influential display against Everton after a break the deadlock, but he scuffed wide Leeds and Chelsea have been fierce face as he scampered down the right and looping onto the crossbar before falling wretched first season with Chelsea. with just Meslier to beat after surging into rivals since their brutal FA Cup final clash whipped over a low cross that Kai into the grateful Meslier’s arms. But the Germany forward was back to the area. Antonio Rudiger’s hopeful effort in 1970, but the absence of fans due to Havertz poked straight at Leeds keeper As ever with Leeds and their wide- his diffident worst here and shot tamely at from 30 yards sent Meslier sprawling to the coronavirus lockdown diluted the Illan Meslier. Leeds launched a penetrat- open style, chances came thick and fast Meslier from Hakim Ziyech’s pass. Granted save, while Callum Hudson-Odoi was Blues’ first league visit to Elland Road ing counter immediately after Havertz’s and Roberts was inches away from open- space by the statuesque Leeds defence, denied by the keeper as Chelsea’s chal- since 2003. The poor quality of the miss and Patrick Bamford’s cross was ing the scoring when Chelsea keeper Havertz should have done better with a lenge petered out. — AFP.