Brighton claimed a resounding 3-0 victory over Chelsea at the Amex Stadium, exposing Enzo Maresca’s side’s glaring weaknesses in attack. Kaoru Mitoma produced a moment of magic to open the scoring, then Yankuba Minteh struck twice to seal the Seagulls’ first home league win in six matches. Chelsea, struggling without a recognised striker, failed to register a shot on target for the first time since 2021 – leaving serious questions over their top-four credentials.
Maresca had already frustrated Chelsea fans with his recent remarks downplaying the importance of domestic cup competitions, and this latest defeat will only add to their concerns. With Christopher Nkunku deployed as a false nine, the visitors looked completely toothless in attack, and their lack of cutting edge was brutally exposed. Brighton, on the other hand, were incisive and clinical, punishing their opponents with ruthless efficiency.
Embed from Getty ImagesAs it happened
Brighton started brightly and took the lead in stunning fashion after just 27 minutes. Bart Verbruggen launched a long ball forward, and Kaoru Mitoma plucked it out of the air with an exquisite first touch before ghosting past Trevoh Chalobah and curling a brilliant finish into the bottom corner.
Chelsea thought they had levelled in the 36th minute when Enzo Fernández bundled the ball ihome, but the goal was disallowed for a foul on Joel Veltman. Brighton then punished them moments later. In the 38th minute, Danny Welbeck held up the ball inside the box and intelligently teed up Yankuba Minteh, who skipped past Marc Cucurella before drilling a low shot into the bottom corner to double Brighton’s lead.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Blues enjoyed more possession after the break but remained painfully blunt in attack. In the 63rd minute as Welbeck and Minteh combined once again to put the result beyond doubt. Minteh found space inside the box and aimed for the near corner, with his shot taking a wicked deflection off Chalobah to wrong-foot keeper Filip Jorgensen.
Chelsea’s frustrations boiled over in the closing stages as Fernández clashed with Welbeck, earning both players bookings. Maresca desperately shuffled his pack, bringing on Reece James, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Tyrique George, but the changes made little impact.
The three points see Brighton sat in tenth after Saturday’s games, while Chelsea remain winless in five away league games. Manchester City’s win over Newcastle has pushed them out of the top four altogether. Brighton’s next task is a trip to Southampton, while Chelsea must regroup before facing Aston Villa..
The lineups
Brighton: Verbruggen; Lamptey, Webster, Van Hecke, Veltman; Hinshelwood, Baleba; Mitoma, Rutter, Minteh; Welbeck.
Chelsea: Jorgensen; Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernández; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Nkunku.
