Chelsea knock out Leeds in FA Cup five goal thriller.

 Chelsea knock out Leeds in FA Cup five goal thriller

In the mind's eye, you can still see Ian Hutchinson's long throw soaring into a congested Leeds United penalty box. And then from another corner of your vision you could see David Webb waiting for the missile to be launched into the danger zone. Suddenly Chelsea would reach a seventh heaven. The trajectory of the ball was such that Webb found himself  leaping up at the far post before heading Chelsea's late winner against Leeds United in the 1970 FA Cup Final replay at Old Trafford.

At the time both Chelsea and Leeds United were situated at the centre of football's universe, gripping our attention with the kind of free flowing and expansive football that would take another 50 years to come to full fruition in the modern day Premier League. Back then football had a dull functionalism, a dreary dependence on the long ball from full back to centre forward. It was one dimensional at times, predictable but could be, when the mood took it, immensely entertaining. 

But at the beginning of the 1970s Chelsea were at the artistic cutting edge of the game, avant garde, swish, swashbuckling, always a compulsive watch and far from being boring. There was Peter Osgood, Hutchinson himself, Charlie Cooke, Ron Harris, Peter Houseman, Peter Bonetti and of course Dave Webb, a towering influence on the Chelsea of the 1970s. Chelsea were carefree and expressive showmen, full of wit and instinct, fluency from back to front and totally without inhibition.

Then there were the lean, bleak and traumatic years when the club found itself perilously perched on the precipice, clinging on to the metaphorical cliff face. Had it not been for their former chairman and colourful character in his own right Ken Bates then Chelsea would have folded like a pack of cards. Poised on the trapdoor of the old Third Division, Chelsea mercifully hauled themselves back into contention for another chance again. Bates invested one pound into the coffers and  most of the late 1970s and early 80s were spent fighting off insolvency and bankruptcy.

There was the glowering sight of bulldozers and diligent builders demolishing the remnants of the old Shed and rebuilding the most ambitious project of all time. Stamford Bridge had come back to life with a vengeance and eventually it all came right for the West London club. It wasn't long before the late and much missed Ray Wilkins matured into one of the club's classiest and most creative midfield players and Wilkins became symbolic of the club's renaissance.

It wasn't long before Chelsea were rubbing shoulders with both the old and new aristocracy. Millionaire Russian businessman Roman Abramovich quite literally resuscitated the club in the early 21st century. Soon the acquisition of Frank Lampard from West Ham would become the central axis from which strikers like Didier Drogba and defender John Terry would become the main source of the club's inspiration. Then in a dramatic change of fortune, Chelsea won two successive Premier League titles and then, astonishingly, the Champions League winning trophy. The mission had been accomplished. Chelsea were the complete article.

On Wednesday evening though it was the current incarnation of Chelsea who were on parade for a Chelsea crowd who may have become spoilt by the club's recent successes. This season has become extremely uncomfortable, cumbersome, awkward, inconsistent certainly but their 4-2 victory against Leeds in the FA Cup fifth round was a pleasant throwback to Premier League wine and roses. Some of their football on the night was easy on the eye, poetically symmetrical and gorgeously extrovert at times. The passes were short, sharp, well co-ordinated and highly intelligent. Their movements on and off the ball were almost programmed to perfection. The intricate triangles, circles and rectangles of smooth passing from defence to attack reminded you of Chelsea at their very best.

Under the midweek floodlights Stamford Bridge still had a palatial air of the five star hotel with plenty of restaurants, clubs and bars within walking distance of the ground. The harbour and village are now flourishing and the immense affluence that has been rapidly generated from souvenirs and merchandise are the club's shining financial salvation. But against Leeds the fans were back in voice, good humoured and boisterous, loud and proud. Their Premier League season hasn't really taken off and the chances are that they may have to be content with a European Conference League place for their efforts.

Still, when the likes of Enzo Fernandez, Levi Colwell, a young and hungry Englishman named Alfie Gilchrist, Malo Gusto, the always lively and fleet and fast feet of Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson beat defenders for fun, Chelsea were irresistible, cavalier, full of themselves, oozing brazen confidence, at times bordering on arrogance when the time was right.

Then Moises Caceido gave Chelsea their exotic and cosmopolitan look, simply stylish and always looking for the delicious through ball. Both Noni Madueke and Alex Disai were models of sophistication and joie de vivre while Mykhailo Mudryk was perhaps the most outstanding player on the night, swerving past defenders with effortless ease and then darting in and out of Leeds defensive low block with old fashioned wing play before cutting inside his opponent to explode into action.

Soon Chelsea had opened the scoring. After a delightful exchange of passes that was almost spellbinding, Niklas Jackson, now a Stamford Bridge poster boy, fired home low into the Leeds net as if he'd studied the Peter Osgood manual of the centre forward's art. Then Matheo Joseph, who had looked so impressive for Leeds up until then, promptly equalised when Chelsea got themselves into a terrible tangle at the back. The slow, deliberate build up from the back now rebounded on them. Joseph hurtled into the Chelsea penalty area like a man who finds that the children's game of Pass the Parcel had worked in his favour. Joseph scored quite gleefully and Leeds were level pegging.

Shortly afterwards though Chelsea discovered another treasure trove of quick, quick, slow slow staccato passes. Caseido found Raheem Sterling picked up the ball again, ran dangerously into space and his low cut back found Mykahalo Mudryk who stepped up to the plate with a firmly drilled shot that beat Leeds keeper Ilian Meslier who was nowhere near the ball.

But Leeds were far from out and beaten. Their football had now achieved a much higher plateau and their equally as eye catching passing suggested that they were far from out of this game. It was fluid and intuitive with Cysci Summerville, Ethan Mpadu, busy and industrious, Joe Rondon bristling with energy and invention and Connor Roberts shutting up Chelsea's forward momentum. Archie Gray of course comes from the best family pedigree while Eddie looked on with righteous admiration. 

Once again Leeds sprung forward like greyhounds out of the trap, players swarming forward in unison like an orchestra responding to the conductor instantly. From the loveliest of crossfield passes and the classic diagonal overload, a high, steepling cross from Jaidon Anthony landed conveniently at the feet at the lethal Joseph who did the same trick with a marvellous poacher's goal. Leeds were level.

In a fascinating climax to this game, Chelsea found their most assertive attacking edge once again. It was a second wind that maybe they hadn't thought they were capable of producing. A superbly measured through ball from Chelsea's now resourceful midfield, sent through substitute Conor Gallagher who latched onto the ball, running confidently into the Leeds penalty area and confidently slotting home Chelsea's late, late winner.

For the departing Leeds fans this may well have reminded them of the way things used to be. Under Marco Bielsa it was all very gung ho, reckless and gallantly adventurous with no consideration for defensive duties. Leeds are fighting back from the Championship but this was not the Leeds of Billy Bremner, Peter Lorimer, Mick Bates, Mick Jones, Norman Hunter or Jack Charlton. Besides, Don Revie would have had kittens had he seen this Leeds defence on Wednesday evening. So it's Chelsea who are through to the last eight of the FA Cup and Leeds who return to domestic toil in the Championship. Football is just scintillating and never disappointing.