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For Chelsea, a revenge mindset might have been on the card, after being sent tumbling out of the FA Cup a week ago, but it was Brighton who piled more misery on the abysmal Blues with a convincing 3-0 win, leaving Enzo Maresca’s side reeling from their third defeat in four matches.
Kaoru Mitoma was the star of the show once again, scoring the opening goal with a breathtaking piece of control that left the Chelsea defense in tatters. The Japan winger’s first touch was immaculate as he brought down Bart Verbruggen’s raking pass, before drifting past Trevoh Chalobah and curling the ball past Filip Jörgensen with aplomb.
Yankuba Minteh doubled Brighton’s lead before halftime, slotting home from close range after being set up by Danny Welbeck. The goal came as a result of Chelsea’s haphazard defense failing to deal with Georginio Rutter’s cross.
Minteh sealed the win with his second goal of the night after the break, thanks to Levi Colwill’s mistake that allowed Welbeck to provide the assist. Brighton’s fans were ecstatic, singing “Can we play you every week?” as they watched their side tear apart the Chelsea defense.
Chelsea’s woes were compounded by the loss of Nicolas Jackson, who has been ruled out for at least six weeks. Cole Palmer struggled to make an impact as a false 9 yet again, and the Chelsea manager’s decision to shift Christopher Nkunku to a deeper role failed to pay off.
Brighton, on the other hand, were buoyed by their stirring comeback last week, and Fabian Hürzeler’s decision to name an almost unchanged lineup paid off. The Seagulls’ victory lifts them up to eighth place on the Premier League table, within six points of Chelsea’s expensively assembled squad.
As the pressure mounts on Maresca, Brighton’s win will only add to the scrutiny. The Chelsea manager had promised to change things up, but his side’s lackluster performance will only raise more questions about their ability to qualify for the Champions League.
Chelsea’s night only got worse as they struggled to create chances, despite dominating possession. Their lack of cutting edge in recent weeks became evident and was on full parade, as Brighton’s defense held firm despite some late pressure.
Mitoma could have added to the scoreline, but his shot was straight at Jörgensen. Substitute João Pedro also missed the target, while Joël Veltman struck the post via Jörgensen’s face.
As the final whistle blew, Brighton’s fans were jubilant and ecstatic, while Chelsea’s players trudged off the pitch, their heads hung low in disappointment. Maresca’s side has a lot of work to do if they’re to turn their season around from here, especially in the pursuit of a top 4 finish.
Minteh Starboy