Brighton triumphed over Chelsea once again, showcasing a dominant performance by securing a 3-0 victory in the Premier League on Friday. This win follows their earlier 2-1 victory against the London team in the FA Cup just a week prior, marking a successful double over their rivals.
In the 27th minute, Brighton struck first when Kaoru Mitoma, the Japanese forward, skillfully controlled a long ball sent by goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. Mitoma then outpaced the last defender and sent a precise low shot past Chelsea’s goalkeeper, Filip Jorgensen, finding the back of the net with finesse. Mitoma continued to play a crucial role in Brighton’s next goal just 11 minutes later. He navigated through the Chelsea penalty area, and although his initial shot was blocked, the ball fell to Yankuba Minteh, who calmly converted the chance to double the lead.
Minteh, the Gambian winger, showcased his skill once more by scoring Brighton’s third goal shortly after halftime. After executing a clever one-two pass with Danny Welbeck, Minteh seized his opportunity and fired into the net from a challenging angle, leaving the Chelsea defense flat-footed as they failed to react.
Brighton’s goalkeeper, Verbruggen, expressed his satisfaction post-match, stating, “Three goals, a clean sheet, what more can you ask for?” This match marked a troubling period for Chelsea, adding to their disappointing run, with three losses in their last four outings. As a result, they remain fourth in the Premier League, now four points behind Nottingham Forest, who have a game in hand.
Despite controlling 70% possession throughout the match, Chelsea struggled to create any meaningful chances and failed to register a single shot on goal. Chelsea’s manager, Enzo Maresca, was disheartened by the performance, admitting to the BBC that it was the team’s worst showing since his arrival.
Conversely, this win marked Brighton’s first home victory in the league since November 9, propelling them two spots up to eighth position in the standings. The team aimed to respond positively following a humbling 7-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest on February 1.
Welbeck shared his thoughts on the team’s significant turnaround, stating, “It has been a massive couple of weeks for us after a horrible result, and it was important we reacted in the right way. There was obviously something wrong against Forest. We had to look at ourselves and have some honest conversations in the dressing room and with the manager. It was something we could not just gloss over. We had to have that feeling of what it was like and carry it with us.”
