By Samuel A. February 9, 2025
Chelsea Football Club had another bad day at the office on Saturday evening, which was really crucial as it saw them crash out of the FA Cup. Kaoru Mitoma’s second-half winner sent Brighton through to the fifth round at Chelsea’s expense, with the comeback victory easing the slight pressure on Seagulls manager Fabian Hurzeler.
The Seagulls were looking to make a statement after their terrible display in a 7-0 loss to Nottingham Forest last weekend. They started this cup tie in horrific fashion, with Verbruggen’s howler, fumbling Cole Palmer’s harmless cross into his own net after five minutes. However, Chelsea have had their issues recently and one of them is letting leads slip. They were pegged back seven minutes after that early Verbruggen gift as Georginio Rutter nodded Joel Veltman’s delicious cross past former Seagulls goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
Chelsea could have taken the lead again before half time, but Christopher Nkunku, who seems to have lost his confidence lately, chose to pass to Palmer instead of shoot when through on goal, and the England international only managed to put his headed effort onto the roof of the net.
Brighton took their chance after the break, as Mitoma was played in by a delicate Rutter pass – the finish even more sumptuous over the flailing Sanchez. It was a cup tie which exposed Chelsea’s carelessness but also lack of cutting edge up top. Since Boxing Day, they have taken the lead then failed to win the game on five occasions. They also ended this game with one shot on target – it came after four minutes when Palmer stung Verbruggen’s gloves from distance.
Brighton, meanwhile, moved into Monday’s fifth round draw ending their slump of back-to-back Premier League defeats.