Brighton & Hove Albion fought back from a goal down to defeat Chelsea 2-1 and secure their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup. Goals from Georginio Rutter and Kaoru Mitoma overturned an early own goal from Bart Verbruggen to give Brighton a hard-fought victory.
Chelsea took the lead in the fifth minute when Verbruggen fumbled Cole Palmer’s cross into his own net. However, Brighton responded well, with Rutter heading in an equalizer before Mitoma’s deft finish gave them the lead.
Chelsea struggled to create clear-cut chances and rarely threatened to equalize. Enzo Fernandez’s effort over the bar was their only real opportunity of note. The defeat extends Chelsea’s winless run away from home to five matches.
Brighton, on the other hand, were clinical in front of goal, scoring with two of their six shots. Rutter’s header and Mitoma’s clever finish proved decisive, securing their place in the next round of the FA Cup.
This victory will provide a welcome boost for Brighton, who have suffered back-to-back defeats in the Premier League. They will now be hoping to continue their cup run and challenge for their first major trophy in the club’s history.
Chelsea, who fielded a strong team despite their busy schedule, will now turn their attention back to the Premier League and the UEFA Conference League. They are currently fourth in the league and will be looking to secure Champions League qualification for next season.
The Conference League offers Chelsea their only realistic chance of winning a trophy this season, and they will be hoping to progress in that competition.
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