Brighton claimed a convincing 3-0 victory over Chelsea, with Kaoru Mitom0a scoring a stunning goal and Yankuba Minteh netting twice on Friday.
Chelsea, managed by Enzo Maresca, delivered one of their most disappointing performances of the season, suffering their second defeat within a week at the Amex Stadium.
Mitoma, who had already played a crucial role in Brighton’s FA Cup win over Chelsea the previous weekend, once again caused problems for the Blues. The Japanese winger displayed outstanding skill to open the scoring, while Minteh added goals on either side of halftime.
Maresca, in his first season at Chelsea after moving from Leicester, recently stated that the club belongs in the Champions League and aims to qualify within two years. However, this latest setback—Chelsea’s third loss in four matches across all competitions—further weakened their chances of securing a top-four finish.
Sitting in fourth place, Chelsea hold a slim two-point advantage over Manchester City and Newcastle. To maintain their position, Maresca must quickly find solutions to his team’s defensive struggles.
Brighton, who had suffered a heavy 7-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest in their previous league outing, had won only twice in their last 12 Premier League matches. However, with back-to-back victories over Chelsea, they have regained momentum.
Christopher Nkunku, making just his sixth league start since joining Chelsea in 2023, replaced the injured Nicolas Jackson, who is expected to be out for up to eight weeks with a hamstring issue.
To maximize Nkunku’s effectiveness, Maresca adjusted Chelsea’s attacking approach, deploying him in a wider role instead of as a central striker, a position occupied by Cole Palmer.
Palmer, who started the season in exceptional form with six goals in his first seven league appearances, had only managed eight more in the following 17 matches, including two penalties. His decline in output coincided with Chelsea’s drop from early title contenders to merely competing for a top-four spot.
His struggles continued in this match, missing two opportunities—one shot went over the bar from the edge of the box, while another was scuffed wide from a Noni Madueke cross. Chelsea’s problems worsened when Madueke left the field with an injury moments later.
Brighton took the lead in the 27th minute with a moment of brilliance from Mitoma. Goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen sent a long pass forward, which Mitoma controlled with remarkable finesse as it dropped over his shoulder. The winger then dribbled past Trevoh Chalobah before placing a precise shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Chelsea appeared to have equalized when Enzo Fernandez headed in a Malo Gusto cross, but the goal was disallowed due to a clear foul. That disappointment was compounded when Brighton extended their lead in the 38th minute.
A careless loss of possession deep in their own half left Chelsea vulnerable. Danny Welbeck capitalized, setting up Minteh, who maneuvered past Marc Cucurella before finishing from close range.
Chelsea’s defensive woes persisted, and Brighton sealed the win in the 63rd minute. Despite Chelsea’s appeals for a foul on Levi Colwill by Welbeck, the play continued, allowing Brighton to press forward. Minteh received the ball, skillfully dribbled past Cucurella, and fired a powerful shot into the net from eight yards, capping off Chelsea’s disappointing night.
