Chelsea’s Struggles Deepen as Brighton Punish 10-Man Blues at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea’s early promise once again faded into disappointment as Brighton came from behind to seal a 3-1 victory at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, condemning the Blues to back-to-back Premier League defeats. Danny Welbeck was the hero for the Seagulls, netting a late brace to cap off a dominant second-half performance against a Chelsea side reduced to ten men for the second consecutive league outing.

Chelsea’s Bright Start Undone by Chalobah Red Card

Mauricio Pochettino’s men started the match with intent, eager to banish memories of last week’s defeat to Manchester United. They controlled possession from the outset and forced Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen into a pair of sharp saves from Enzo Fernández and Reece James’ early free-kicks.

Their persistence paid off midway through the first half when Moises Caicedo sliced open Brighton’s midfield with a perfectly weighted through ball to James on the right flank. The Chelsea captain’s driven cross took a deflection and found Fernández, who ghosted in at the far post to nod home the opener and send Stamford Bridge into raptures.

However, the game turned on its head just after the hour mark. A sloppy pass from Andrey Santos gifted Brighton possession deep in Chelsea’s half, and Diego Gómez raced through on goal. Trevoh Chalobah, in a desperate attempt to recover, brought him down on the edge of the box, leaving referee Michael Oliver with little choice but to brandish a straight red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Read also: What Maresca had to say earlier

The dismissal sapped Chelsea’s rhythm and invited Brighton onto the front foot. The visitors grew in confidence, pinning the Blues back as the home crowd grew restless.

Welbeck and De Cuyper Seal Brighton’s Comeback

With a man advantage, Brighton began to dominate proceedings, stretching Chelsea’s compact back line and exploiting the wide areas. Their breakthrough came in the 77th minute when substitute Yankuba Minteh danced past Malo Gusto before delivering a teasing cross that Welbeck nodded past Altay Bayındır from close range.

Chelsea, desperate to hold on for a point, switched to a low block, but their resistance crumbled in the closing minutes. Maxim De Cuyper, making his mark on the game, rose highest to head in his first Brighton goal from a corner in the 88th minute, completing the turnaround.

As the Blues pushed forward recklessly in search of an equaliser, they were punished again in stoppage time. A swift Brighton counterattack saw Minteh release Welbeck in behind the defence, and the veteran striker coolly slotted home his second of the evening to put the result beyond doubt.

The defeat leaves Chelsea with just one win in their last four games and piles more pressure on Pochettino, whose side now sit outside the top four. Defensive lapses and discipline issues have plagued the Blues in recent weeks, with Chalobah’s red card their second in as many league fixtures.

Brighton, meanwhile, will take heart from an inspired performance on the road, with Welbeck’s clinical display highlighting the growing confidence within Roberto De Zerbi’s side. The Seagulls move closer to the European spots and will fancy their chances of building momentum as the season gathers pace.