Following a searching pass from goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, the Japan winger sublimely plucked the ball out of the air before beating Trevoh Chalobah and rifling into the bottom right corner from inside the D. Chelsea briefly thought they had levelled 10 minutes short of half-time when captain Enzo Fernandez headed home Malo Gusto’s cross, only to be penalised for a push on Joel Veltman.
Chalobah conceded possession deep inside his own half and, after the legs of Filip Jorgensen prevented the sliding Levi Colwill turning Georginio Rutter’s cross into his own net, Danny Welbeck swiftly worked the loose ball to Minteh, who took a touch past Marc Cucurella before burying a low finish.
Amid the ongoing injury absence of first-choice striker Nicolas Jackson and following the early loss of Madueke, Maresca initially opted against changes as he sent out his players early for the second period.
Winger Madueke was among the recalled players but, with England boss Thomas Tuchel watching from the stands, he limped off inside 21 minutes to be replaced by Jadon Sancho after setting up a good chance for Cole Palmer.
Chelsea suffered a crippling sense of deja vu after Kaoru Mitoma’s eye-catching opener and Yankuba Minteh’s double earned Brighton a thumping 3-0 Premier League win at the Amex Stadium.
