Brighton vs Chelsea 2-1 FA Cup Report: Seagulls Overcome Early Deficit To Qualify

Brighton vs Chelsea FA Cup Report

Scorers: Rutter 12’, Mitoma 57’; Verbruggen (OG) 5’

Kaoru Mitoma’s second-half strike secured Brighton & Hove Albion a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Chelsea at the Amex Stadium, sending the Seagulls into the FA Cup fifth round.

The comeback win provided a much-needed response for Fabian Hürzeler’s men, who had been under pressure following their humiliating 7-0 loss to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

Brighton Capitalise on Chelsea’s Defensive Frailties

Chelsea got off to the perfect start inside five minutes when Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen gifted them an opener.

A seemingly harmless cross from Cole Palmer slipped through the Dutch shot-stopper’s hands and trickled into the net, handing the hosts an early advantage.

However, Chelsea’s inability to hold onto leads has been a recurring issue, and Brighton needed just seven minutes to find an equaliser.

Joel Veltman delivered a pinpoint cross into the box, where Georginio Rutter rose highest to nod the ball past former Brighton keeper Robert Sánchez.

Despite their shaky defensive moments, Chelsea had the opportunity to regain their lead before half-time.

Christopher Nkunku, leading the line due to injuries to Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu, found himself in a promising position but opted to pass to Palmer instead of taking on the shot himself.

The England international could only direct his header onto the roof of the net, as another chance went begging.

Mitoma’s Magic Seals the Win for Brighton

After the interval, Brighton began to assert more control, and they took their chance when it arrived.

Rutter, already influential in the game, produced a delicate pass to Mitoma, who showed his trademark composure with a sublime finish over the outstretched Sánchez to put the Seagulls ahead.

Chelsea struggled to muster a meaningful response. Their attacking deficiencies were once again laid bare, with the Blues failing to threaten the Seagulls’ net significantly after their early strike in the fifth minute.

Chelsea’s Struggles Continue as Brighton Advance

Mauricio Pochettino’s side has now failed to win five matches since Boxing Day despite taking the lead in each of them.

The lack of a clinical edge in front of goal continues to haunt them, and their only FA Cup shot on target in the entire match highlights their attacking struggles.

Meanwhile, Brighton’s victory marks an important step forward after back-to-back league defeats.

Hürzeler’s men now look forward to the FA Cup fifth-round draw, while Chelsea will have an immediate chance for revenge as the two sides meet again in the Premier League on Valentine’s Day.

Final Thoughts

Brighton’s resilience and composure saw them through to the next round, with Mitoma and Rutter playing key roles in their comeback victory. For Chelsea, their familiar frailties were once again on display, as their inability to see out leads and lack of attacking intent proved costly.

With their FA Cup journey over, the Blues must now shift focus back to the league and find solutions to their ongoing struggles in front of goal. Brighton, on the other hand, will hope this victory reignites their momentum as they continue their cup run.

For more info on this game’s outcome, you may also visit:
Fixtures – Emirates FA Cup – Competitions | The Football Association