BRIGHTON put Chelsea to the sword on a night to forget for Enzo Maresca. Goals from Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh secured an emphatic three points as Chelsea's new goalkeeping experiment backfired spectacularly. Maresca named Filip Jorgensen his new keeper, dropping error-prone Robert Sanchez to the bench. Chelsea's Cole Palmer netted four in one half against the Seagulls when the teams met earlier in the season.
![[Brighton & Hove Albion players celebrating a goal.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/kaoru-mitoma-brighton-hove-albion-972051938.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The England star had the first chance of the game, blazing high and wide from 20 yards. But he was a passenger for the remainder of the contest as Brighton took control. Chelsea's injury woes continued as Noni Madueke limped off just before the half-hour mark, replaced by Jadon Sancho. And things get worse for the Blues minutes later, as Mitoma put the hosts into the lead. The Japanese star controlled a long punt upfield with an exquisite first touch, before placing a first-time strike past Filip Jorgensen.
![[Kaoru Mitoma scoring a goal during a soccer match.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/22-kaoru-mitoma-scores-opening-972051896_20b52e.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Chelsea responded well, with Enzo Fernandez having a header ruled out for a harsh foul just before the break. But they were 2-0 down just seconds later, with Yankuba Minteh smashing home after a disastrous period of defending from the visitors. BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS. Maresca stuck with the same XI after the break - but Chelsea were all over the place at the back. Minteh took full advantage to make it 3-0 just after the hour, firing past a stricken Jorgensen from close range.
![[Photo of a soccer goal being scored.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/scores-teams-second-goal-english-972055017.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
