Chelsea performed the whole lot of the second half with 10 men as they clung on to defeat Brighton 3-2 after a tense finale at Stamford Bridge.
Mauricio Pochettino’s facet have been already two up thanks to headers from Enzo Fernandez and Levi Colwill when Conor Gallagher was proven a second yellow card for fouling Billy Gilmour in stoppage time on the finish of the primary half.
Moments earlier than Gallagher’s dismissal, Facundo Buonanotte had pulled Brighton again into it at 2-1 with swinging strike contained in the put up, and the stage regarded set for a fightback by the guests.
Instead, it was Chelsea that reasserted their cost, Fernandez changing from the spot halfway by way of the second half after the superb Mykhailo Mudryk had been fouled.
Joao Pedro got here off the bench to head a purpose again at the beginning of a prolonged interval of added time, earlier than Chelsea survived a penalty scare for a attainable handball in opposition to Colwill with just about the sport’s closing motion.
This was a press release win from Pochettino’s staff. Not solely was it a primary league victory in six makes an attempt in opposition to Brighton, it got here after their captain had been despatched off after 45 minutes, and with arguably their finest participant this season,, Cole Palmer, beginning the sport on the bench, a knock sustained in coaching on Saturday that means he was match solely to emerge as soon as his staff have been 3-1 up.
The opening purpose got here after good work from Palmer’s substitute Mudryk, taking a excessive, looping move down nicely with his chest and crossing cleverly to win a nook. From the ensuing ball in, Benoit Badiashile confirmed stability and poise to take cost on the again put up and hooked a ball into the six-yard field from which Fernandez rose to nod house his first Premier League purpose.
Igor Julio wanted to be alert with a sliding interception to stop a sure purpose for Nicolas Jackson, however after the defender had poked the ball behind for an additional nook Brighton have been caught out once more with a close to an identical routine.
This time it was Jackson conserving the transfer alive on the again put up, arcing the ball again into center and onto the top of Colwill, who despite a courageous effort from Gilmour to hook the ball again from behind the road wouldn’t be denied his first Chelsea purpose.
Mudryk regarded as assured as he has been in Chelsea blue and practically made it three earlier than half-time, beating Joel Veltman on the flip with a blinding first contact in midfield and driving on the coronary heart of Brighton, solely to see his fizzing 30-yard drive fly inches previous the put up.
Instead it was Brighton in whose favour the sport turned earlier than the break. First, the best of strikes from Buonanotte halved the arrears, the Argentinean lashing the ball contained in the far put up with his left foot after Simon Adingra and Adam Lallana had mixed to decide him out.
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Then in stoppage time on the finish of the half, a extra critical setback for Pochettino, his captain Gallagher proven a second yellow card for sliding in late on Gilmour, and Chelsea would play the second 45 minutes with 10 men.
Brighton emerged decided to make their numerical benefit rely. Adingra was a rising menace playing excessive on the left, most notably within the fifty fifth minute when he crossed for Lallana who took a contact and hooked narrowly huge.
Roberto De Zerbi gambled, making 4 substitutions in a single swoop, while Pochettino regarded to his depleted bench and ready Palmer.
Yet earlier than Chelsea’s appointed penalty taker might take to the pitch, the sensible Mudryk received a spot-kick, outpacing the not too long ago arrived James Milner earlier than being shouldered to the bottom. A pitchside VAR test was required for referee Craig Pawson to make the decision, and Fernandez confirmed his personal credentials from 12 yards for 3-1.
Ten minutes of stoppage time had been introduced by the point substitute Pedro rose to look a header throughout purpose and in on the far put up to give Brighton hope.
Then on the demise, Pawson was known as pitchside as soon as extra to adjudicate on handball in opposition to Colwill.
The proof appeared to present the ball strike the defender’s face, as Stamford Bridge breathed a sigh of collective aid.
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