- Chelsea took an early lead courtesy of a major error by keeper Bart Verbruggen
- But Brighton hit back with goals from Georginio Rutter and Kaoru Mitoma
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Does the Premier League REALLY need to look at goal celebrations?
Chelsea’s first trophy under their BlueCo ownership will not come in this season’s FA Cup after a loss to Brighton which only reminded us how little they have received in return for such spending.
Robert Sanchez, Moises Caicedo and Marc Cucurella started here against their former club. They cost a fifth of a billion pounds to acquire collectively – the equivalent to 80 Kaoru Mitomas.
And yet it was Mitoma who sent Brighton into the fifth round at their old boys’ expense.
Chelsea complained there was a handball in the build-up to that dink which confirmed the comeback. There was no VAR to save them here, and nor could Cole Palmer rescue their FA Cup campaign either.
It is hard not to watch Chelsea and think that they are so reliant on Palmer that if he does not turn up, they do not.
Palmer scored four goals the last time these clubs faced one another in the Premier League in September. He took only five minutes to force the breakthrough here when Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen fumbled his cross into the goal as if the ball was coated in Vaseline.
Brighton & Hove Albion beat Chelsea 2-1 on Saturday to progress to the last 16 in the FA Cup
Chelsea took an early lead when Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen scored a clumsy own goal
Brighton hit back and Kaoru Mitoma eventually scored the winner by lobbing Robert Sanchez
It was an awful error – so bad that Chelsea might consider signing him next summer, as one fan joked – but Brighton equalised after 12 minutes when Georginio Rutter headed beyond Sanchez.
Chelsea’s goalkeeper was booed throughout, as were Cucurella and Caicedo. Brighton got a good deal when they sold those three – £200million – but evidently, money does not buy forgiveness.
The home supporters loved Veltman for his 28th-minute reducer on Cucurella and for then trying to lift him up after his theatrical rolling as there was a spiciness under the Amex’s lights.
Since December 4, Palmer has created 32 chances in the Premier League, more than any other player has managed in any of Europe’s elite divisions.
However, none of those have been converted by his Chelsea team-mates, leaving him with zero assists.
It is an extraordinary statistic, and one which emphasises their wastefulness in front of goal.
Not helpful, then, that they turned up in Brighton without a recognised striker in their squad.
Christopher Nkunku was asked to do his best impression of one, though he declined the opportunity to shoot as he tried to set up Palmer, whose header looped over.
Georginio Rutter also found the net for Brighton, scoring with a well-placed headed finish
This was Brighton’s first home victory in three months, ending a five-game winless streak
Chelsea will get a chance to avenge this loss as they return to Brighton in the league on Friday
With Chelsea shooting towards their own fans in the second half, you could feel the frustration brewing in that away end as Caicedo was urged to shoot from 35 yards.
Brighton took the lead in the 57th minute with Rutter’s ball in behind finding Mitoma. It was a delightful dink which saw him beat Sanchez, as Chelsea’s hopeful claims of a handball in the build-up were fruitless with no VAR in operation at the Amex.
Brighton’s last outing resulted in a 7-0 Premier League loss to Nottingham Forest and Fabian Hurzeler could be proud of the increased intensity they were showing here.
Chelsea went to work trying to find a leveller, with substitute Enzo Fernandez blasting over and Maresca turning to others on his bench in Tyrique George and Noni Madueke.
Yet there was no way back as another chance of a trophy was kissed goodbye on a night when Brighton gleefully got to rub it in the faces of former friends turned foes.
