Photo Credit: Reuters
Chelsea are now closing in to a European return as they managed a fourth consecutive Premier league win by beating Brighton in their home stadium. Following a disappointing start to the season, Chelsea have managed to pull back and fulfill their potential in recent months. Before this winning streak, they only managed to lose just one in their previous 13 Premier League matches.
Due to this they are in pursuit of Europa League Qualification which undoubtedly represents progress. The first half of the match was packed with action as Noni Madueke only needed three minutes to test the authenticity of Bart Vebruggen who managed to save the shot. The teams went blow for blow with efforts being seen either side as Simon Adingra only managed to shoot wide. This was before Cole Palmer’s effort from outside the area was saved comfortably.
The hosts seemed comfortable in possession but the Blues managed to strike clinically through their recently crowned Chelsea player of the year, Cole Palmer. He had a lot to do when Marc Cucurella fired a cut-back towards him at head-height but he managed to stoop low and direct a brilliant header past Verbruggen’s outstretched fingertips.
Later on in the half, VAR was under scrutiny as Tariq Lamptey looked to have deliberately elbowed Mykhaylo Mudryk in the head, a collision which forced the Ukrainian off the field. Just before the half-time break, Joao Pedro rattled the post just like a statement to show the visitors that he was a threat.
Nicholas Jackson then had a goal ruled out with a combination of offside and a push on Lamptey earlier. In the beginning of the second half, Chelsea managed to blow several chances to go ahead with several chances with the main culprit being Nicholas Jackson failing to deliver the killer pass on several occasions.
Brighton responded by composing themselves and settling into the game and we saw Pascal Gross fire wide from a few yards out. Chelsea however delivered their second goal when Gusto and Christopher Nkunku combined with the former’s low ball being slotted first time into the bottom corner by the latter.
The hosts pushed for a comeback against the clock and we saw substitute and Chelsea captain Reece James receive a deserved red card after a petulant kick at Joao Pedro. Ansu Fati struck the post in injury time and Danny Welbeck managed to pull one back in injury time by tapping in the ball from six-yards out.
