Brighton & Hove Albion achieved their first-ever victory at Stamford Bridge, displaying an impressive comeback against Frank Lampard’s struggling Chelsea side. The win ensures Chelsea remain in the bottom half of the Premier League standings.
Pep Guardiola, Manchester City’s manager, recently praised Brighton as ‘the best team in the world at building up from the back.’ The Seagulls demonstrated their skills in this match, with Alexis Mac Allister missing two early chances. Chelsea’s Mijailo Mudryk showed promise, creating opportunities for the home side, making for an entertaining first half.
Youngster Evan Ferguson nearly scored first, but his effort hit the woodwork. Chelsea eventually broke the deadlock through Conor Gallagher, whose shot deflected and looped over Brighton’s goalkeeper, Robert Sánchez. However, the goal only seemed to energize Brighton, who equalized with Danny Welbeck’s finish from Pascal Groß’s cross.
In the second half, Brighton continued to dominate, forcing Chelsea to defend deep in their half. The visitors’ attacking intensity and defensive pressure proved too much for Chelsea. Lampard attempted to change the game with a triple substitution, but Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma continued to cause problems for the Blues.
The turning point came in the 70th minute, as Julio Enciso scored a stunning 25-yard goal, sealing Brighton’s victory.
The Seagulls remained in control until the final whistle, leaving Chelsea unable to respond. Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi will be delighted with the performance and view it as excellent preparation for their upcoming FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United.
Man of the Match: Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Photo credit: bbc.com / Reuters
