Brighton vs Chelsea Report

Scorers: Mitoma 27’, Minteh 38’, 63’

Brighton & Hove Albion completed a dominant 3-0 win over Chelsea at the Amex Stadium, securing their second victory over the Blues in less than a week. A stunning goal from Kaoru Mitoma and a brace from Yankuba Minteh sealed the result, as Brighton ended a five-match winless streak at home while deepening Chelsea’s struggles on the road.

Brighton Take Control After Wasteful Chelsea Start

Chelsea came into the match hoping to avenge their FA Cup exit at the hands of Brighton, but their familiar struggles continued. The visitors started brightly, with Cole Palmer twice finding himself in promising positions, but the in-form midfielder failed to hit the target with both efforts. Their troubles were compounded when Noni Madueke was forced off injured after just 21 minutes.

Meanwhile, Marc Cucurella and Moisés Caicedo, both returning to face their former club, were met with a hostile reception from the Brighton crowd. Cucurella, in particular, was targeted with jeers whenever he touched the ball, while Caicedo found himself in the thick of the physical battle in midfield.

Despite Chelsea’s early possession, Brighton struck first through a moment of individual brilliance. Mitoma, who had scored the winner in their FA Cup meeting, controlled a long pass from Bart Verbruggen with exquisite skill before curling a precise shot into the bottom corner to give the Seagulls the lead.

Minteh Doubles Brighton’s Advantage as Chelsea Struggle

Chelsea thought they had hit back when Enzo Fernández found the net with a header, but the goal was ruled out for a push on Joël Veltman. That setback was compounded minutes later when Brighton doubled their lead.

A defensive mix-up saw Levi Colwill nearly put the ball into his own net, forcing goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen into an emergency save. However, his save only pushed the ball into Danny Welbeck’s path, who quickly teed up Minteh. The young winger remained composed, cutting inside Cucurella before slotting the ball home to send the Amex into celebration.

Chelsea struggled to respond, with Georginio Rutter blasting a wild effort over the bar and Carlos Baleba seeing his shot blocked. The Blues lacked fluidity and cutting edge in attack, with Brighton’s defensive setup comfortably dealing with their limited threats.

Minteh Completes His Brace to Seal Brighton’s Victory

Brighton showed no signs of slowing down after the break and added a third goal in the 63rd minute. Colwill felt he had been fouled, but play continued, and Minteh capitalised. Linking up with Welbeck once again, the Gambian winger danced past Cucurella for a second time before firing past Jörgensen, with his shot deflecting off Trevoh Chalobah on its way in.

Chelsea’s frustrations were clear as Palmer, their standout performer in recent weeks, cut a visibly irritated figure in the latter stages of the match. Brighton nearly extended their lead further, with João Pedro wasting a golden chance after Jörgensen’s careless pass landed at his feet. Mitoma also forced a save from the goalkeeper before heading over from close range, while Veltman’s late shot struck the post.

Chelsea’s Away Woes Continue as Brighton Reignite Home Form

Brighton’s convincing win saw them end a run of five home Premier League matches without victory, while Chelsea’s miserable away form continued. The Blues have now won just two of their eight league games on the road since Boxing Day, a damning statistic for a team struggling for consistency.

Final Thoughts

Brighton’s ability to capitalise on their chances and control the game from midfield showcased why they remain a difficult side to face. Mitoma’s magic and Minteh’s composed finishing were the highlights, as the Seagulls secured an emphatic victory.

For Chelsea, this defeat will raise further concerns about their lack of attacking cohesion and defensive vulnerability. With Champions League ambitions slipping further away, Enzo Maresca must find answers quickly if his side is to salvage their season. Meanwhile, Brighton will take great confidence from this win as they look to build momentum for the remainder of the campaign.

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Brighton v Chelsea, 2024/25 | Premier League