Blues banished from FA Cup thanks to Mitoma winner

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Brighton secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Chelsea in an enthralling FA Cup encounter at the Amex Stadium.

Kaoru Mitoma’s second-half winner ensured Fabian Hurzeler’s side progressed to the next round, while Chelsea were left to rue missed opportunities.

The visitors got off to the perfect start in the fifth minute. Jadon Sancho, lively in the early exchanges, delivered a ball across the area that found Cole Palmer, who struck a first-time volley.

While it seemed intended as a cross, Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen misjudged it entirely, inadvertently helping the ball into his own net.

Despite the setback, Brighton responded. Their equaliser arrived in the 12th minute after an excellent passage of play down the left.

Tariq Lamptey and Joel Veltman combined, with the latter whipping in a perfect cross for Georginio Rutter, who rose between two Chelsea defenders and expertly guided his header into the far corner past Robert Sanchez.

With the game finely poised at 1-1, both teams enjoyed spells of dominance but struggled to convert promising attacks into clear-cut chances.

Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca was without key attacking options, and it showed, as the Blues lacked potency in the final third.

Sancho and Pedro Neto were bright in possession but unable to carve open Brighton’s well-organised defence.

The second half continued in much the same vein, with Brighton gradually asserting themselves. Chelsea’s lack of cutting edge was highlighted in the 73rd minute when Palmer miscued a volley inside the box, sending the ball harmlessly wide.

Moments later, Brighton introduced Joao Pedro, who immediately made an impact, winning a penalty appeal that was waved away despite apparent contact from Malo Gusto.

Then, in the 57th minute, the decisive moment arrived. Rutter was at the heart of the move again, spinning smartly in midfield before finding Mitoma on the left.

The Japanese winger, always a threat, timed his run perfectly to stay onside and delicately lifted the ball over the onrushing Sanchez to put Brighton ahead. The Amex erupted as the home side took control.

Chelsea pressed for an equaliser late on, with Noni Madueke looking dangerous after coming off the bench. In stoppage time, he surged past defenders and delivered a teasing ball across goal, only for Jan Paul van Hecke to make a last-ditch clearance, preventing a certain tap-in. That summed up Chelsea’s night – plenty of intent but no end product.

A final speculative effort from Diego Gomez sailed wide before the referee blew the full-time whistle.




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