(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Brighton Stun Chelsea With Late Comeback Win at Stamford Bridge
London: Brighton delivered a remarkable late turnaround to beat Chelsea 3-1 in the Premier League, with Danny Welbeck and Maxim de Cuyper scoring in stoppage time to seal the victory.
The result came after Chelsea were reduced to 10 players, as Trevoh Chalobah was sent off in the 53rd minute following a VAR review.
Match Summary
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Chelsea started strong, taking the lead when Enzo Fernandez headed in Reece James’s cross, with a slight deflection off Kaoru Mitoma.
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The turning point came when Mitoma won possession from Andrey Santos. In the scramble that followed, Chalobah fouled Georginio Rutter, resulting in his dismissal.
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Brighton took full advantage of the extra man. Danny Welbeck, introduced from the bench, headed home the equaliser in the 77th minute.
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In stoppage time, De Cuyper scored from a corner before Welbeck added his second from close range to complete the comeback.
Chelsea, who are now seventh in the table, face a tough test against Liverpool in their next match. Brighton climb to 10th place after yet another strong performance against a traditional “big six” side.
Chelsea’s Challenges
Chelsea’s youthful squad showed promise in the first half but struggled after the red card.
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Andrey Santos, making his first Premier League start, was at the heart of the incident that led to Chalobah’s sending-off.
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Injuries and suspensions have left head coach Enzo Maresca without his four first-choice centre-backs and attacker Cole Palmer.
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Despite a talented squad, Chelsea have managed only one win in their last five games across all competitions.
Maresca’s immediate task will be to address the team’s discipline and defensive mistakes before hosting champions Liverpool.
Brighton’s Brilliance
Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler made game-changing substitutions, with Welbeck and De Cuyper both scoring and Yankuba Minteh playing a starring role.
The 19-year-old winger troubled Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella throughout the game, creating Welbeck’s equaliser with a perfectly delivered cross. His pace and creativity mark him as Brighton’s next potential superstar.
Brighton’s ability to compete at the top level, despite selling over £260m worth of players and staff to Chelsea in recent years, highlights the strength of their recruitment system under owner Tony Bloom.
