Brighton secured their second victory over Chelsea within a week, defeating the Blues 3-0 in a dominant Premier League clash on Friday.
Just days after knocking Chelsea out of the FA Cup, the Seagulls delivered a commanding performance at the Amex Stadium, with Yankuba Minteh emerging as the star of the night.
Minteh, who had only netted three league goals before this match, scored twice, either side of halftime, to lead Brighton to a much-needed win.
The Seagulls opened the scoring in the 27th minute when Kaoru Mitoma brilliantly controlled Bart Verbruggen’s long pass before slotting it past Filip Jorgensen.
Chelsea thought they had equalized through Enzo Fernandez eight minutes later, but the goal was ruled out due to a push on Joel Veltman.
Brighton capitalized on their momentum, doubling their lead seven minutes before the break. Danny Welbeck’s persistence in the box set up Minteh, who finished from close range.
Minteh sealed the win with his second goal just after the hour mark, squeezing the ball past Jorgensen at the near post despite protests for a foul on Levi Colwill. Brighton continued to press, almost adding a fourth as Mitoma’s effort was saved, and Veltman’s strike was deflected onto the post.
The victory propelled Brighton into eighth place, while Chelsea remained in the top four but risked dropping out depending on Saturday’s results.
For Brighton, it was their first home win in six Premier League matches and their biggest victory over a top-four side since defeating Arsenal 3-0 in May 2023.
Minteh’s brace marked his first in English football, bringing his tally to four goal contributions in his last four league appearances.
Meanwhile, Chelsea extended their winless streak to five away matches, struggling to maintain their early-season form. The Blues have now collected only nine points from their last nine Premier League games, raising concerns for manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Brighton’s statement win not only avenged their heavy defeat to Nottingham Forest but also showcased Minteh’s rising influence as a key player in Roberto De Zerbia’s squad.
