Yankuba Minteh played a pivotal role in leading Brighton & Hove Albion to their second victory over Chelsea in just a week, complementing their FA Cup success with a commanding 3-0 win in the Premier League on Friday.

Despite only having netted three league goals before this match, Minteh showcased his prowess by scoring twice, bringing his team back to winning form in the top tier.

The Seagulls took the lead in the 27th minute when Kaoru Mitoma impressively controlled a long ball from Bart Verbruggen and expertly placed it beyond the reach of Filip Jorgensen.

They extended their advantage just 11 minutes later, with Minteh finishing from close range before later completing his brace.

This victory allowed Brighton to rise two spots in the standings to eighth, ahead of the weekend fixtures. On the other hand, Chelsea remains in the upper echelons of the table but faces the risk of slipping down on Saturday.

Match Highlights

Brighton took the lead with a moment of brilliance, as Mitoma skillfully controlled Verbruggen’s long pass before curling the ball into the bottom-right corner, marking the goalkeeper’s assist as the fifth of its kind this season—a first since 2010/11.

Enzo Fernandez thought he had leveled the score for Chelsea eight minutes later, only to have his goal disallowed due to a push on Joel Veltman.

Brighton doubled their lead just before halftime as Levi Colwill nearly scored an own goal. The ball ultimately fell to Danny Welbeck, who assisted Minteh for his first goal.

Minteh netted his second in the 63rd minute, getting a shot off at the near post, despite a questionable foul in the buildup.

Brighton, eager for more, nearly added a fourth, with Mitoma’s attempt saved and Veltman’s shot hitting the post after a deflection from Jorgensen.

Seagulls Thrive

Following their recent FA Cup victory over Chelsea, Brighton rebounded from a disappointing 7-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

This performance further highlighted their aspirations for a European spot this season.

Although they started slowly and let Chelsea dominate early possession, Brighton’s defense held firm while their attack was clinical, exemplified by Mitoma’s surprising opener.

Minteh further solidified their lead, and while Brighton had previously struggled to win matches when leading at halftime, their opponents posed little threat in the second half.

Following Minteh’s additional goal, Brighton missed several chances to extend their lead, with key opportunities wasted by Mitoma and substitute Joao Pedro.

Brighton now sits closely behind the European spots and will look to climb further during their upcoming match against struggling Southampton on February 22.

Chelsea’s Continued Woes

Chelsea’s recent struggles persisted during their trip to the south coast, with key absences hampering their performance.

Missing the prolific Nicolas Jackson due to a hamstring injury, Enzo Maresca opted to deploy Cole Palmer in a dynamic forward role alongside Christopher Nkunku.

However, Palmer’s early attempt went well over the bar, foreshadowing Chelsea’s challenging game.

Injury troubles escalated as Noni Madueke was forced to exit the match, leading to Jadon Sancho’s introduction. Palmer then retreated to midfield, yet Chelsea failed to register a shot on target, trailing at halftime for the first time under Maresca.

Despite pressing for a response in the second half, Chelsea’s only notable effort came late in the game when substitute Tyrique George nearly assisted an own goal from Adam Webster.

Chelsea will hope to rectify their offensive struggles as they prepare to face Aston Villa next Saturday.

Manager Insights

Fabian Hurzeler: “We started well and created a few scoring opportunities, but after our first goal, we became a bit too passive. We adjusted in the second half and defended well, which was key to our performance.”

Enzo Maresca: “I always feel the pressure; today was arguably our worst performance since my arrival. Though things aren’t ideal, we still sit fourth and remain in contention.”

Next Premier League Fixtures

Key Statistics

Verbruggen becomes only the second Brighton goalkeeper to assist in the Premier League, following Jason Steele’s assist against Brentford in April 2023.

This match marked the first instance of Brighton defeating the same opponent twice in a week as a top-flight team, a feat not achieved since November 2007 against Cheltenham Town.

Additionally, Chelsea failed to record a single shot on target in a Premier League match for the first time since September 2021 against Manchester City.