By Olaitan Ibrahim
Brighton delivered a crushing blow to Chelsea in a thrilling Premier League encounter on Friday night, securing a dominant 3-0 victory at the Amex Stadium.
The Seagulls outclassed their visitors with a display of electrifying football, leaving Enzo Maresca’s side in disarray.
The hosts made their intentions clear early in the game, pressing high and moving the ball swiftly.
Their efforts paid off in the 27th minute when Kaoru Mitoma unleashed a thunderous strike into the bottom right corner, leaving Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen rooted to the spot. It was a moment of sheer brilliance that set the tone for what was to come.
Brighton doubled their lead in the 38th minute, as the ever-lively Yankuba Minteh capitalized on a defensive lapse to stab the ball home from close range.
The Blues were reeling, unable to muster a meaningful response despite occasional glimpses of attacking threat from Christopher Nkunku and Cole Palmer.
The final blow came in the 63rd minute when Minteh struck again, this time with a deflected shot that wrong-footed Jorgensen, making it 3-0. Chelsea’s defence was left in tatters, unable to contain Brighton’s relentless onslaught.
Despite a flurry of second-half substitutions, Chelsea failed to break through Brighton’s disciplined backline.
Nkunku came closest to reducing the deficit in the 88th minute, but his low shot was superbly saved by Bart Verbruggen.
Chelsea’s frustration was further compounded by multiple bookings, including Enzo Fernandez for dissent and Moises Caicedo for a reckless challenge.
The Blues’ lack of composure and creativity highlighted their ongoing struggles in the league.