Mitoma Magic Sends Brighton Past Chelsea in FA Cup Thriller

TDT | Manama
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Kaoru Mitoma delivered the decisive moment as Brighton & Hove Albion staged a stunning 2-1 comeback victory over Chelsea, securing their place in the FA Cup fifth round at the Amex Stadium.

Brighton Overcomes Early Setback

The match started disastrously for Brighton when goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen fumbled Cole Palmer’s cross into his own net, gifting Chelsea a fifth-minute lead.

However, the hosts responded quickly, with Georginio Rutter leveling the score just seven minutes later, heading in Joel Veltman’s cross past Robert Sánchez.

Mitoma's Brilliant Winner

After a tightly contested first half, Brighton dominated after the break. Their persistence paid off in the 57th minute when Mitoma produced a moment of brilliance, flicking the ball over Chelsea’s keeper Sánchez to complete the turnaround.

The goal came with some controversy, as Chelsea players protested a potential handball in the buildup, but the referee waved away appeals.

Chelsea’s Struggles Continue

The defeat extends Chelsea’s winless away run since early December, leaving the UEFA Conference League as their only realistic shot at silverware under manager Enzo Maresca.

Meanwhile, Brighton, under Fabian Hürzeler, bounced back impressively from last week’s 7-0 thrashing by Nottingham Forest, showing resilience and character in front of their home fans.