Brighton Knock Chelsea Out of FA Cup with Impressive Comeback Win

Brighton & Hove Albion secured their place in the FA Cup fifth round with a 2-1 comeback victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The Seagulls, who have now reached this stage of the competition for the third consecutive season, showed resilience after falling behind early in the game.

Despite Chelsea taking the lead through Cole Palmer's creativity, Brighton responded with determination. Rutter’s header brought them level before Kaoru Mitoma put them ahead in the second half with a composed finish. The visitors dominated with their innovative wing play, as Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh stretched Chelsea’s defense, well-supported by full-backs Joël Veltman and Tariq Lamptey.

Chelsea’s Struggles Continue

This result extends Chelsea’s poor run of form, having now won just three of their last 10 matches in all competitions (D3 L4). The Blues, who had previously won eight consecutive games, have failed to progress beyond the fourth round in two of the last three seasons—a stark contrast to their previous dominance in the FA Cup.

One of Chelsea’s major issues was their lack of attacking depth. With Christopher Nkunku as their only recognized striker, they struggled to create meaningful opportunities after going behind. Their struggles were reflected in a disappointing 0.65 expected goals (xG) compared to Brighton’s 0.92 xG, highlighting their lack of cutting edge in the final third.

Brighton’s FA Cup Pedigree Grows

Brighton have now won four of their last six FA Cup matches after conceding first (L2), demonstrating their ability to turn games around. They showed composure after going behind, a trait Chelsea have lacked recently—having failed to win five of their last seven matches in all competitions when scoring first (D2 L3).

With this victory, Brighton march into the fifth round, fully deserving their spot after outclassing Chelsea. The Seagulls will be eager to continue their impressive FA Cup run as they look ahead to the next challenge.

Final Score: Chelsea 1-2 Brighton
Goalscorers:

• Chelsea: (Early goal created by Cole Palmer)
• Brighton: Rutter (Header), Mitoma (Second-half finish)

Key Stats:

• Chelsea's last 10 games: W3 D3 L4
• Brighton’s FA Cup comeback record: 4 wins in last 6 when conceding first
• xG: Chelsea (0.65) – Brighton (0.92)

Brighton move forward, while Chelsea are left reflecting on another disappointing cup exit.