In a dramatic FA Cup fourth-round tie at the Amex Stadium, Brighton secured a 2–1 victory over a toothless Chelsea, with Kaoru Mitoma's late winner punctuating a performance that exposed Chelsea's attacking frailties.
Brighton and Hove Albion produced a resolute performance to oust Chelsea from the FA Cup in a match that highlighted the visitors’ growing maturity and tactical discipline. In the 81st minute, after Chelsea had struggled to break down Brighton’s high press, substitute Tyrique George initiated a move that saw Enzo Fernandez pass the ball to Christopher Nkunku. However, Nkunku’s hesitation and subsequent offload underscored the lack of incisiveness in Chelsea’s attack—a problem compounded by injuries to key forwards Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu. Brighton’s response was methodical; after their equaliser from Georginio Rutter in the first half, Kaoru Mitoma scored the decisive goal in the 57th minute, sealing Brighton’s comeback and sending Chelsea out of the competition.
Manager Enzo Maresca later lamented the impact of losing vital attacking personnel, remarking, “Sometimes I think you need to play games without players to realise how important they are.” This defeat, which comes at a crucial juncture in Chelsea’s season as they aim for a top-four finish, has exposed the club’s vulnerability in the final third and raises serious questions about the depth and quality of their forward options.
Brighton and Hove Albion produced a resolute performance to oust Chelsea from the FA Cup in a match that highlighted the visitors’ growing maturity and tactical discipline. In the 81st minute, after Chelsea had struggled to break down Brighton’s high press, substitute Tyrique George initiated a move that saw Enzo Fernandez pass the ball to Christopher Nkunku. However, Nkunku’s hesitation and subsequent offload underscored the lack of incisiveness in Chelsea’s attack—a problem compounded by injuries to key forwards Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu. Brighton’s response was methodical; after their equaliser from Georginio Rutter in the first half, Kaoru Mitoma scored the decisive goal in the 57th minute, sealing Brighton’s comeback and sending Chelsea out of the competition.
Manager Enzo Maresca later lamented the impact of losing vital attacking personnel, remarking, “Sometimes I think you need to play games without players to realise how important they are.” This defeat, which comes at a crucial juncture in Chelsea’s season as they aim for a top-four finish, has exposed the club’s vulnerability in the final third and raises serious questions about the depth and quality of their forward options.
