Rogers' mock outrage fuels Chelsea’s comeback in Carabao Cup

Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer sparked a dramatic turnaround for Chelsea after they trailed Leeds United 2‑0 at Stamford Bridge, with the Blues eventually winning 6‑3 in the Carabao Cup third‑round tie on 9 September 2026. The comeback was sparked by FOUR half‑time substitutes, including Rogers and Palmer, who combined for two goals and three assists.

Half‑time overhaul ignites comeback

Xabi Alonso’s half‑time overhaul saw Rogers, Palmer, Pedro Neto and another fresh leg enter the match. The Blues had looked in danger of crashing out after falling behind early, but the quartet injected fresh energy that changed the game’s momentum.

Leeds had taken the lead through a towering header from Tarik Muharemovic and doubled it early in the second half via Brenden Aaronson. A foul by Dan James on Pep Chavarria in the Leeds box set the stage for Chelsea’s resurgence.

Palmer’s brace and Rogers’ assists

Cole Palmer struck twice in three minutes, the first from the penalty spot, to level the scores. His second goal came from a low‑cross that Rogers had delivered, marking one of three assists credited to Rogers.

Rogers also set up Pedro Neto’s first‑time strike and a cross that led to Valentin Barco’s close‑range finish, giving him a hat‑trick of assists. Danny Welbeck added a late deflected goal to seal the victory.

Post‑match banter and manager’s view

Rogers laughed that missing the Man‑of‑the‑Match award was “criminal”, shouting “Mate, I got four assists!” while Palmer replied, “I started the comeback, I will shout you out”. Their light‑hearted exchange was captured. Alonso admitted his initial team selection was wrong, noting nine changes from the previous defeat to Arsenal. He praised the chemistry between Palmer and Rogers and highlighted that Chelsea have scored 16 goals in five matches across all competitions.

What the win means for Chelsea

The 6‑3 triumph sees Chelsea progress to the next round of the Carabao Cup, averting the risk of an early exit. The result underlines the impact of the half‑time changes and adds momentum to the Blues’ early‑season campaign.