Brighton 3-0 Chelsea: Premier League – live reaction | Premier League

A stat from Opta: despite averaging just under 70% possession, Chelsea failed to register a shot on target in a Premier League game for the first time since September 2021 (v Manchester City).

I see that in tonight’s only Championship game, QPR have battered Derby County 4-0 in John Eustace’s first game in charge of the Rams. Hope he’s OK!

Ed Aarons’ match report from the Amex

This is what the result does to the table. Both Manchester City and Newcastle could now go fourth by the end of the weekend. Brighton, meanwhile, are up to eighth. If Champions League qualification is awarded to fifth place this season, Brighton are still not out of it.

Full-time: Brighton 3-0 Chelsea

90+6 min: Both teams seem content with a 3-0 scoreline.

90+4 min: Brighton fans are cheering every pass. This is embarrassing for Chelsea, who have already bought countless players and staff (and a manager) from the south-coast club.

I think what was astonishing about Mitoma’s goal was not just the first touch but also how quickly the winger shifted the ball away from Chalobah with his second touch. Because the control was instant, the Chelsea defender was completely bamboozled and that only made Mitoma’s movement and finish look better.

90+2 min: Sky pundit Jamie Carragher gives Mitoma the player of the match award. Minteh, Rutter, and Baleba were also contenders but you simply can’t not give it to the Japanese for one of the most memorable first touches and goals the Premier League has ever seen.

90 min: Six minutes added on here. Someone put Chelsea out of their misery.

89 min: From the corner, Chelsea take it short and Palmer whips a sublime cross with pace and verve to the back stick, where precisely no Chelsea players attack. The dangerous cross simply bounces out for a goal kick. Palmer simply looks towards Maresca and shrugs his shoulders in dismay.

88 min: This is the worst Chelsea performance I have seen under Maresca. Nkunku in particular has been completely anonymous, but pokes his head above the parapet to finally force Verbruggen into a save after a clever cut back from George. Verbruggen makes an excellent save with his feet! Corner to Chelsea.

Brighton hit the post!

84 min: Brighton make a double change: Baleba and Welbeck off, O’Riley and Ayari on. I think that means Joao Pedro will play as the central striker.

82 min: “As a Celtic fan, I’m enjoying watching one of England’s most unlikeable clubs getting a right good doing,” emails Stephen McCrossan. “Brighton, on the other hand, seem like a good bunch. And they have the splendid Matt O’Riley on the bench who all Celtic fans adored. A couple of observations: did Minteh just shout out ‘eff off’ in quite a cheery way when he scored the third goal? [Yes Stephen, I think he did]. And, secondly, can I just say I really like the spiffy new rapidly updating system on the live match feeds? Good work by the Guardian Geek team there”.

80 min: Minteh is booked for a bit of afters with Cucurella, after the Brighton man was ruled offside on another dangerous counter-attack.

78 min: Brighton show Chelsea how to take a free-kick, with Minteh whipping a lovely pass in towards the near post. Joao Pedro rises highest, but can’t plant his header below Jorgensen’s crossbar.

76 min: It should be four! Jorgensen clears awfully to Joao Pedro, whose first touch of the match is to control the ball and with Jorgensen completely out of position, the Brazilian’s second touch is to shoot wildly over the bar. The goal was gaping!

Remarkable that Chelsea have seven keepers on their books and still don’t have a decent stopper. Meanwhile, £71m Kepa, on loan at Bournemouth, is doing just fine.

74 min: Brighton make a double change: Joao Pedro for the excellent Rutter and Gomez for Hinshelwood.

73 min: Rutter, who has both deft and incisive tonight, leaves two Chelsea markers for dead and releases Mitoma, who runs 60-70 yards unchallenged. The Japanese enters the Chelsea penalty area, Dewsbury-Hall actually chooses not to engage as he covers the easy square pass to Welbeck, and Mitoma shoots with his weaker left, straight at Jorgensen.

71 min: Chelsea are yet to have a shot in this second half and have failed to beat the first man from multiple corners.

69 min: “It’s happened again … it’s happened agaaaaaaain”, sing the Brighton fans to the Chelsea supporters.

67 min: Should mention that Enzo Fernandez got a booking in the aftermath of Brighton’s third goal. It’s safe to say that the Argentinian is a little riled up.

65 min: Chelsea make a triple change in response to the goal but it’s all too late. James, Dewsbury-Hall and George (for just his second Premier League appearance) comes on for Gusto, Caicedo and Neto.

GOAL! Brighton 3-0 Chelsea (Minteh 63)

62 min: This would normally be the stage where you would expect Chelsea to make changes. But a quick glance at the visitors’ bench – Sanchez, Adarabioyo, Dewsbury-Hall, James, Anselmino, George, Acheampong, Amougou – doesn’t fill one with inspiration.

61 min: Brighton are really hitting their groove. Baleba and Rutter are looking particularly slick in midfield.

59 min: Gusto, who has looked a little ragged since that Baleba tackle, is struggling. Another injury for Chelsea. Gusto hobbles to the sideline clutching his hip. I think he may continue, although Reece James is primed on the bench.

57 min: Chelsea are applying pressure with possession and the occasional cross into the box, but Brighton – defending in a low-ish block – have not afforded the visitors any significant chances.

55 min: Have always loved Mitoma but have to say I was surprised that Brighton rejected a £75m bid for Mitoma in January, especially as they have Adingra in reserve. How wrong I was. The Japanese will turn 28 in May, but apparently had no intention of leaving for Saudi Arabia. Good on him.

53 min: It’s been a slow start to the second half. Chelsea’s Cucurella, formerly of Brighton, is still getting booed every time he touches the ball. Caicedo, curiously, has escaped the same treatment.

51 min: Right on cure, Minteh sprints clear of Cucurella on Brighton’s right wing, retrieves the ball and cuts the ball back to Rutter, who shoots high and wide. The former Leeds man had more time than he realised.

49 min: Can someone please tell me what has happened to Simon Adingra this season? He is such a talent, but really seems to be off it. I guess the emergence/arrival of Minteh has had something to do with it.

A year ago, almost exactly to the day, Adingra was named young player of the tournament at Afcon 2023, and provided the assist for Ivory Coast’s winning goal in the final. Now, he can’t get in this Brighton team.

47 min: Baleba is very harshly penalised for tackling Gusto. Chelsea have a free kick in a promising area, but Brighton step up and count about five visiting players offside.

Peeeeeeeeep!

“My favourite teammate’s goal reaction is Sergio Reguilon to Eric Lamela’s rabona in the NLD”, emails George Ronczy.

Yep, that’s a good shout. Not a reaction to a goal, but Anthony Gardner’s reaction to a Adel Taarabt nutmeg (while the Moroccan was at Tottenham) is an all-timer. Gardner just looked away and stopped watching the game in astonishment. Filthy.

Half-time reading:

Half-time: Brighton 2-0 Chelsea

48 min: After a slow start in which he let Palmer have acres of space, Baleba has quietly been excellent for Brighton, extinguishing fires around Brighton’s penalty box when Chelsea threatened to create an opening.

45 min: Four minutes added on here. Chelsea will want to nick one before the half is out.

“The reaction of Mitoma’s teammates to that goal is quite sweet,” emails Tom Atkins. “There’s a real disbelief and excitement on their faces that reminds me of a goal scored by Dennis Bergkamp against Sunderland in 1997, where the pitch side camera clearly picks up Paul Merson giggling ‘what a f***ing goal!’”

One of the great Premier League celebrations, this. Pure impudence.

For context, I would say Mitoma’s goal was better. It’s the best goal I’ve seen all season.