Brighton & Hove Albion came from behind to defeat Chelsea 2-1 in the FA Cup fourth round at the Amex Stadium. Chelsea's hopes of advancing were dashed after a dramatic second-half performance from Brighton, who responded impressively after their humbling 7-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest just a week ago.
The match began with a bizarre early twist as Chelsea took the lead in the fifth minute. Cole Palmer's shot was fumbled by Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, who unfortunately bundled the ball into his own net, giving Chelsea a 1-0 advantage. However, Brighton quickly recovered and equalized in the 12th minute. A cross from Joel Veltman was met by Georginio Rutter, who expertly headed past Chelsea's goalkeeper to level the score.
In the second half, Brighton continued to press, and their persistence paid off in the 57th minute when Kaoru Mitoma put them ahead. Mitoma finished a well-timed pass from Rutter, giving Brighton a 2-1 lead and sending the home crowd into celebration.
Chelsea struggled to break down Brighton's resolute defense as they sought an equalizer. The Blues were unable to capitalize on their possession, with key moments like Cole Palmer's failure to convert a good chance and Enzo Fernandez's wayward shot highlighting their lack of cutting edge. Brighton's defense, led by Jan Paul van Hecke, held firm throughout the match, keeping Chelsea at bay.
Despite some late pressure from Chelsea, including a dangerous moment when Noni Madueke's cross was parried by Verbruggen, Brighton stood strong. Substitute Danny Welbeck, who had replaced the injured Lewis Dunk as Brighton's captain, passed the armband to Adam Webster as the Seagulls made tactical changes to see out the win.
With the victory, Brighton progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup, while Chelsea's campaign in the competition comes to an abrupt end.
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