Chelsea 1-3 Brighton: Seagulls Surge Past Ten-Man Blues

Date: 27 September 2025
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Competition: Premier League

Scoreline:
Chelsea 1 — 3 Brighton & Hove Albion

Match Summary

Chelsea looked dominant in the opening 45 minutes, controlling possession and pressing Brighton repeatedly. Their efforts paid off in the 24th minute when Enzo Fernández rose highest to nod home from a deflected Reece James cross.

However, the turning point came early in the second half. In the 53rd minute, Trevoh Chalobah was dismissed following a VAR review for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. That red card forced Chelsea to play the rest of the match with ten men, and it dramatically changed the game’s momentum.

Brighton gradually grew into the match, and in the 77th minute Danny Welbeck leveled the score with a header.

In stoppage time, Brighton struck twice more: Maxim De Cuyper converted a header in the 92nd minute to put them ahead, and Welbeck sealed the comeback with a second goal late in the game.

Chelsea’s defensive fragility under pressure, especially after going a man down, allowed Brighton to exploit gaps. Ultimately, the Seagulls walked away with a deserved and dramatic victory.

Player Ratings & Performance Highlights

• Chelsea:

  • Enzo Fernández stood out in midfield and scored the only goal; many viewed him as one of their brighter spots.

  • Chalobah’s red card overshadowed much of Chelsea’s strategy, as the team’s shape and composure crumbled afterward.

  • Substitute changes came, but they couldn’t prevent the wave of Brighton attacks.

• Brighton:

  • Welbeck was pivotal, scoring twice and keeping the pressure high throughout the closing stages.

  • De Cuyper delivered the dagger in the 92nd minute, heading in what proved to be the winner.

  • The substitutes and tactical shifts paid dividends, especially after Chelsea were reduced to ten men.

Post-Match Reaction & Manager Comments

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca admitted that the red card changed everything:

“We were in control in the first half… but after that mistake we were with 10 players and again, unfortunately, the game changed.”

He also acknowledged that, despite their first-half dominance, Chelsea had to be better both defensively and offensively in those final minutes.

What This Means & What’s Next

• Chelsea: This loss underlines recurring issues with discipline and defensive resilience. Dropping home points will hurt their ambitions if such lapses continue.

• Brighton: A strong away performance, showing character and tactical acumen, especially in turnaround situations.

• Fixtures ahead: Chelsea’s Cup and European schedule intensifies; they’ll need to regroup quickly. Brighton meanwhile can build on this momentum.