- Brighton stage comeback to knock Chelsea out of the FA Cup and reach the fifth round.
- Mitoma scores winner after Rutter’s equalizer, despite Chelsea’s protests over a handball in the build-up.
- Chelsea struggles continue, failing to equalize and extending their winless away streak to five matches.
Brighton staged a comeback to defeat Chelsea and secure a place in the FA Cup fifth round.
Chelsea took an early lead in fortunate circumstances when Cole Palmer’s volleyed cross was mishandled by Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, resulting in an own goal. However, the Seagulls responded, with Georginio Rutter heading home from a Joel Veltman cross to level the score.
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The decisive moment came when Rutter set up Kaoru Mitoma—who had recently been the subject of a rejected £54 million bid from Saudi club Al-Nassr—allowing the Japanese winger to delicately chip the ball over goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
Chelsea protested the goal, arguing that the ball had struck Tariq Lamptey’s arm in the buildup, but with no VAR in place for the FA Cup fourth round, the decision stood.
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Despite fielding a strong lineup, Enzo Maresca’s side struggled to respond, with Enzo Fernandez missing one of their few clear chances by firing over the bar. Chelsea have now failed to win in five consecutive away matches.
The two teams will meet again in the Premier League on Friday at the Amex Stadium, where Chelsea sit nine points and six places above Brighton.
