Yankuba Minteh scored twice as Brighton & Hove Albion recorded a 3-0 victory over Chelsea in Friday night's Premier League clash at the Amex.
Kaoru Mitoma made the breakthrough in the 27th minute with a curling finish after an assist from his goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, before Minteh doubled the home side's advantage in the latter stages of the first period.
Minteh was at it again just past the hour, firing past Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen at his near post, and the visitors had no answer on a night where they were comfortably second-best against the classy hosts.
The victory has moved Brighton into eighth position in the Premier League table, four points behind sixth-placed Newcastle United, while Chelsea remain fourth, two points clear of fifth-placed Manchester City.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
Not too long ago, Chelsea were being mentioned as potential title challengers; that was never likely to be the case, but the Blues are now in danger of finishing outside of the top six, which would be a huge setback considering the money that has been spent.
Chelsea will be sick of the sight of Brighton, having lost 2-1 to them in the FA Cup last time out, but this was a more comprehensive scoreline, and there is absolutely no question that the Seagulls deserved all three points.
The visitors remain fourth in the table, but they are only three points ahead of seventh-placed Bournemouth, and it is not impossible to imagine them dropping down the division in the coming weeks, as their overall performance level is a cause for concern.
Chelsea had 70% of the ball at the Amex but did not register a single shot on target, with Brighton doing much more with their 30%, and it was the Seagulls that looked to boast the superior talent in the final third of the field.
It was an incredibly frustrating night for Cole Palmer, and with Nicolas Jackson currently injured, Christopher Nkunku failed to make the most of a rare opportunity to feature from the first whistle in the Premier League.
BRIGHTON VS. CHELSEA HIGHLIGHTS
Kaoru Mitoma goal vs. Chelsea (27th min, Brighton 1-0 Chelsea)
"A touch from the heavens" 💫
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 14, 2025
Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma puts the hosts in front with an OUTRAGEOUS goal 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/Q35NdQcj5R
Brighton make the breakthrough in the 27th minute of the contest, and the goal comes from Mitoma, who races onto a long pass from his goalkeeper Verbruggen before curling the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
Yankuba Minteh goal vs. Chelsea (38th min, Brighton 2-0 Chelsea)
Minteh doubles Brighton's advantage! 🔵
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 14, 2025
Rutter and Welbeck in the build-up 👏 pic.twitter.com/DB5u5ULdjf
Brighton double their advantage in the 38th minute, as Minteh fires into the back of the net from inside the box after a set-up from Danny Welbeck; Chelsea did not deal with the initial cross and have been made to pay once again here.
Yankuba Minteh goal vs. Chelsea (63rd min, Brighton 3-0 Chelsea)
"It's as if Jörgensen wasn't there" 😬
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 14, 2025
Yankuba Minteh gets his second and puts Brighton three goals ahead 💥 pic.twitter.com/XdOQxz9ZE8
Brighton score their third in the 63rd minute, and it is a second of the match for Minteh, who fires in at the near post after more smart work from Welbeck - not too sure about the goalkeeping from the Chelsea stopper!
MAN OF THE MATCH - YANKUBA MINTEH
© Imago
Mitoma's touch before he made the breakthrough was stunning, and he came incredibly close to securing the man-of-the-match award, but Minteh deserves it courtesy of his brace against the Blues on Friday night.
The 20-year-old scored twice, but it was his overall performance that impressed the most, completing three successful dribbles and making five tackles, with the attacker contributing at both ends during a stunning display.
BRIGHTON VS. CHELSEA MATCH STATS
Possession: Brighton 30%-70% Chelsea
Shots: Brighton 13-8 Chelsea
Shots on target: Brighton 5-0 Chelsea
Corners: Brighton 2-9 Chelsea
Fouls: Brighton 12-15 Chelsea
BEST STATS
2 - Danny Welbeck has assisted two goals in a Premier League game for the first time since May 2017 for Arsenal (v Everton). Throwback. pic.twitter.com/JypjqvBHG2
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 14, 2025
5 - Bart Verbruggen is the fifth different goalkeeper to assist a Premier League goal this season (after Ederson, Flekken, Pickford, and Leno); the most in a single campaign since 2010-11 (5). Launch. pic.twitter.com/QKrBfiPvXU
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 14, 2025
0 - 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). Unusual. pic.twitter.com/UVULs2r04a
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 14, 2025
WHAT NEXT?
Brighton will be bidding to make it three straight wins in all competitions when they head to basement side Southampton in the Premier League next Saturday.
Chelsea, meanwhile, will aim to bounce back from their second defeat in their last three matches when they make the trip to Aston Villa in England's top flight next Saturday.
Matt Law
