Brighton & Hove Albion secured a remarkable 3-0 victory against Chelsea in the Premier League on Friday, featuring a stunning goal from Kaoru Mitoma and a brace from Yankuba Minteh. This win follows their recent success in the FA Cup, where they eliminated Chelsea just a week prior.
Despite dominating possession, Chelsea struggled to make an impact and failed to register any shots on target. Missing strikers Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu due to injuries, the defeat left Chelsea sitting fourth in the league with 43 points, while Brighton climbed to eighth place with 37 points.
The breakthrough came midway through the first half when Mitoma showcased his skill with a brilliant goal. He controlled a long ball from goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen with a phenomenal first touch, then skillfully cut inside Trevoh Chalobah to curl the ball into the far corner of the net.
Enzo Fernández appeared to level the score for Chelsea with a header just before half-time, but his effort was ruled out for a foul on Brighton defender Joël Veltman. Just moments later, Brighton doubled their lead; Danny Welbeck capitalized on a defensive lapse and set up Minteh, who evaded a slide tackle from former Brighton player Marc Cucurella to score.
Minteh struck again in the 63rd minute, delighting Brighton fans by firing in from a tight angle after cutting inside Cucurella. Brighton showed further attacking momentum with Mitoma coming close to adding another goal, but his shot was saved. Later, Joel Veltman hit the post from a Yasin Ayari pass, narrowly missing out on extending the lead.
This home victory was particularly significant for Brighton, as it marked their first league win at home since defeating Manchester City 2-1 on November 9. Welbeck emphasized the impact of Mitoma’s brilliant performance, noting, “He has got an amazing first touch… What a goal.”
Goalkeeper Verbruggen, who contributed with an assist for the opener, expressed satisfaction with the clean sheet after conceding seven goals in their previous match. “We needed to show a reaction and the boys did that,” he noted.
In summary, Brighton’s impressive performance against Chelsea not only highlighted Mitoma’s exceptional talent but also showcased the team’s resilience and determination to bounce back after a difficult spell. As the season progresses, Brighton fans have reason to feel optimistic about their team’s prospects.