Chelsea 1–3 Brighton - Welbeck Inspires Late Comeback at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea’s winless run stretched to three Premier League matches after a 3-1 home defeat to Brighton. The Blues made two enforced changes from the side beaten 2-1 by Manchester United last week, handing rare starts to teenager Jorrel Hato and midfielder Andrey Santos, with Cole Palmer and Tosin Adarabioyo ruled out through injury. Brighton also rotated, giving Diego Gómez a start after his four-goal midweek heroics against Barnsley.

The hosts began brightly, and their early pressure was rewarded in the 24th minute. Reece James’ deflected cross fell kindly for Enzo Fernández, who powered a close-range header past Bart Verbruggen to make it 1-0.Brighton responded through the lively Yankuba Minteh, but despite their possession they struggled to create clear chances against Robert Sánchez.

The game turned early in the second half. A poor touch from Santos allowed Georginio Rutter to break forward, slipping Gómez through on goal. Trevoh Chalobah’s desperate challenge brought him down on the edge of the box, and after a VAR review the Chelsea defender was shown a straight red card the Blues’ second dismissal in as many league games.

Forced to reshuffle, Enzo Maresca had to rely on an inexperienced centre-back pairing of 18-year-old Hato and 19-year-old Josh Acheampong. For a while, Brighton failed to test them, not recording a shot on target until the 76th minute. But when the chance came, they took it. Minteh delivered a pinpoint cross that substitute Danny Welbeck met with a thumping header into the top corner to end his goal drought.

The equaliser completely shifted momentum. Brighton piled on late pressure and completed the turnaround in stoppage time.

A clever corner routine was finished by Maxim De Cuyper in the 92nd minute, before Welbeck struck again in the 99th, capitalising on another Chelsea error after being set up by substitute Gruda.

For Chelsea, it was another evening of self-inflicted damage costly mistakes, red cards, and defensive lapses. Maresca’s side sit on just eight points from six games, with pressure mounting on the Italian coach. Brighton, meanwhile, head home buoyed by back-to-back league wins and the sight of Welbeck back smiling and scoring.

Line-ups:

Chelsea - Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Hato (Badiashile, 77’), Cucurella; Caicedo, Santos (Achaempong, 50’); Estevão (Gusto, 63’), Fernández, Neto (Lavia, 77’); Pedro

Brighton - Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu; Baleba (Gruda, 65’), Ayari; Minteh, Gómez (De Cuyper, 85’), Mitoma (Welbeck, 65’); Rutter (Tzimas, 85’)