A late own goal from Dominic Matteo gave Chelsea victory over a spirited Leeds to maintain their hopes of winning a Champions League place.
Leeds twice led - through goals from Harry Kewell and Teddy Lucic - but Eidur Gudjohnsen and Frank Lampard ensured Chelsea restored parity each time before Matteo's own goal.
The way Matteo haplessly guided Lampard's tame shot into his own goal was a cruel end to Leeds' evening but on the balance of play three points was no more than Chelsea deserved.
KEY MOMENTS
Chelsea dominated large chunks of the match and created the majority of chances, with Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson making a string of fine saves.
Leeds played with great commitment but the difference in quality was superbly illustrated by Gudjohnsen's spectacular overhead volley.
Chelsea settled quickly and had an excellent opportunity to open the scoring after just three minutes.
Lampard could not control William Gallas' drilled cross and failed to hit the target from four yards.
"
We showed great character and great heart
"
Claudio Ranieri
A goal-bound volley from Gianfranco Zola was superbly blocked by Eirik Bakke. The rebound fell to Graeme Le Saux but his strike was athletically saved by Robinson.
Chelsea's failure to convert chances into goals was punished when Leeds scored against the run of play.
Viduka brilliantly flicked Robinson's punt up field into the path of Kewell, who took the ball away from John Terry with his chest before volleying home from short range.
Chelsea almost immediately responded but after Robinson had denied both Le Saux and Gudjohnsen, Jody Morris contrived to miss the target from 10 yards.
The Blues' failure to score translated itself into frustration as half-time approached and both Carlton Cole and Le Saux were booked for needless incidents.
And right on half-time, Robinson could only parry a fearsome Gallas drive that rebounded to safety.
Cole skipped past Mills and Gary Kelly after 51 minutes but his chip drifted over the crossbar.
And Chelsea's pressure was eventually rewarded with a spectacular equaliser.
Lampard made a determined run down the right channel and Gudjohnsen smashed home the midfielder's cross with an overhead volley of exceptional brilliance.
Viduka then forced a brilliant save from Carlo Cudicini after an excellent turn and from the subsequent corner Leeds scored again.
"
We deserved to get something from the game
"
Terry Venables
Kewell's scuffed shot took the ball across the face of ball and Lucic slotted home from short range.
Chelsea again pushed forward and equalised for a second time when Boudewijn Zenden's cross was slotted home by Lampard after a Leeds defender had directed the ball into his path.
And the winner came when Lampard's shot - which appeared to be going wide - was poked home by a confused Matteo, who slumped to the turf after the realisation of his actions had finally sunk in.
Chelsea: Cudicini, Babayaro (Cole 35), Desailly, Terry, Gallas,
Le Saux, Morris, Lampard, Gronkjaer, Gudjohnsen,
Zola (Zenden 67).
Subs Not Used: de Goey, Melchiot, Petit.
Booked: Cole, Le Saux.
Leeds: Robinson, Kelly, Mills, Matteo, Lucic, Wilcox, Bakke,
Okon (Seth Johnson 68), Smith, Viduka (Milner 80), Kewell.
Subs Not Used: Martyn, Harte, Radebe.
Booked: Bakke.
Attendance: 39,738
Referee: J Winter (Cleveland).