Brighton crush Chelsea for the second time in less than a week
They eliminated the 'blues' from the FA Cup and could make them end the day outside the Champions League
“We are not prepared to compete in four competitions,” admitted Enzo Maresca after being eliminated by Brighton (2-1) in the FA Cup. He is not wrong. ‘His’ Chelsea – which was four points behind Liverpool at the beginning of December – has collapsed. Definitely.
Six days later, they lost again at Brighton (3-0) and have only two wins in their last nine Premier League games. The Blues remain fourth in the Champions League zone with 43 points, but City (41), Newcastle (41) and Bournemouth (40) could take their place this very day.
Everything that could go wrong did, starting with Marc Cucurella’s constant booing. The Spaniard, a starter, has not been forgiven for leaving Brighton. To make matters worse, in the 21st minute, Madueke joined Nico Jackson, Guiu, Lávia, Fofana, and Badiashile in the Chelsea infirmary.
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There was a change in goal. Filip Jörgensen, formerly of Villarreal, replaced the Spaniard Robert Sánchez, who was under a lot of criticism, but it didn’t work out either. The first shot on goal, by Kaoru Mitoma in the 27th minute, ended in a goal. The Japanese got rid of Chalobah with spectacular control and subtly put the ball in at the far post.
Chelsea equalized in the 35th minute… but it was of no use. Enzo Fernández headed a cross from Malo Gusto into the goal. The truth is that the Argentine had previously committed a foul, while jumping, on Veltman… and they caught him.
And you know what they say. A lean dog is always a target. In the 38th minute, Brighton’s second shot on goal, second goal. Colwill, an ex-Brighton player, like Cucurella and Caicedo, headed Rutter’s cross into his own goal, Jörgensen barely saved it and Yankuba Minteh took advantage of Welbeck’s pass to cut inside Cucurella and score with the goal entirely to himself.
Already in the second half, in the 63rd minute, Brighton had their third shot on target, and… can you guess? Yes, the third goal, Minteh’s second. Welbeck, once again, passed to the Gambian and the former Feyenoord player cut back, again, to Cucurella, to connect with a shot that, after a slight touch, ended up in Jörgensen’s net.
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As incredible as it may seem, the route could have been even more scandalous. Joao Pedro (2) and Mitoma wasted two good chances and Veltman hit the post in the 85th minute.