Brighton won a hard victory played 2-1 against Chelsea during an exciting meeting in FA Cup at the Amex stadium.
The winner of Kaoru Mitoma in the second half made sure that the team of Fabian Hurzeler progressed in the next round, while Chelsea was left in order of the missed occasions.
Visitors took the perfect start at the fifth minute. Jadon Sancho, animated in the first exchanges, delivered a bullet in the area which found Cole Palmer, who struck a first volley.
Although he seemed to be designed as a crossroads, Brighton’s goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen judged him badly entirely, inadvertently helping the ball in his own net.
Despite the backhand, Brighton responded. Their equalizer arrived in the 12th minute after an excellent passage of play in the left.
Tariq Lamptey and Joel Veltman combined, with the latter whipping in a perfect cross for Georginio Rutter, who got up between two defenders of Chelsea and guided his head in the furthest corner of Robert Sanchez.
With the game finely ready for 1-1, the two teams appreciated domination spells but had trouble converting promising attacks into clear chances.
FT: What a victory in FA Cup! 🙌
[2-1] 📲 #Bhache // #Bhafc 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/aohbj3wehl
– Brighton & Hove Albion (@officialbhafc) February 8, 2025
Enzo Maresca de Chelsea was without key attack options, and that showed it because the blues lacked power in the last third.
Sancho and Pedro Neto were brilliant in possession but unable to sculpt Brighton’s well -organized defense.
The second half continued in the same vein, Brighton gradually asserting himself. The lack of point of Chelsea was highlighted in the 73rd minute when Palmer hid a volley inside the box, sending the ball without danger.
A few moments later, Brighton presented Joao Pedro, who immediately had an impact, winning a penalty call that was distant despite the apparent contact by Malo Gusto.
Then, in the 57th minute, the decisive moment has arrived. Rutter was again at the heart of the move, turning intelligently in the midfield before finding Mitoma on the left.
The Japanese winger, still a threat, perfectly timed his race to stay next to it and gently raised the ball on the Sanchez of the anchor to advance Brighton. The Amex broke out while the local team took control.
Chelsea pressed a late equalizer with Noni Madueke dangerous after leaving the bench. In the time to stop, he jumped defenders and delivered a teasing ball on the goal, only for Jan Paul Van Hecke to establish a last game, preventing a certain Tap-in. This sums up the night of Chelsea – a lot of intention but no final product.
A last speculative effort by Diego Gomez has sailed widely before the referee whistles full time.
