Brighton 2-1 Chelsea: Player Ratings as Blues Exit FA Cup

Chelsea’s FA Cup dreams came to an abrupt end as they were knocked out by Brighton & Hove Albion in a 2-1 defeat. A misstep by Bart Verbruggen and a fantastic strike by Kaoru Mitoma sealed Chelsea’s fate, with Georginio Rutter’s brilliant header setting the stage for a comfortable victory for Brighton.

Match Highlights: A Rocky Start for Chelsea

The match kicked off with an early gift from Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, who spilled Cole Palmer’s cross into his own net, giving Chelsea an early 1-0 advantage. However, Brighton quickly responded, with Georginio Rutter scoring an excellent header just seven minutes later to make it 1-1.

The Seagulls dominated after the equalizer, and early in the second half, Mitoma’s stunning lobbed goal put Brighton ahead. Chelsea failed to mount any serious attacks as Brighton continued their controlled performance, booking their place in the FA Cup fifth round.

Brighton Player Ratings (4-2-3-1)

• GK: Bart Verbruggen – 4.7/10
  Despite the own goal, Verbruggen’s composure improved as the match went on, though his error proved costly.
• RB: Joel Veltman – 7.6/10
  Solid defensive performance and key in neutralizing Chelsea’s attacks.
• CB: Jan Paul van Hecke – 7.0/10
  A steady presence at the back, contributing to Brighton’s defensive stability.
• CB: Lewis Dunk – 6.6/10
  A relatively quiet performance before being substituted at halftime.
• LB: Tariq Lamptey – 8.0/10
  Dynamic on the left, offering both defensive solidity and attacking thrust.
• DM: Carlos Baleba – 6.6/10
  A functional display, breaking up Chelsea’s attacks and maintaining possession.
• DM: Jack Hinshelwood – 6.6/10
  Provided stability in the midfield, though his passing at times lacked sharpness.
• RM: Yankuba Minteh – 7.2/10
  A solid outing, creating space for others and contributing defensively.
• AM: Georginio Rutter – 8.3/10 (Player of the Match)
  An excellent header to equalize and provided the assist for Mitoma’s winner. Rutter’s movement and vision were exceptional.
• LM: Kaoru Mitoma – 7.9/10
  A star performance capped by a brilliant second-half goal that sealed the win.
• ST: Danny Welbeck – 7.0/10
  Linked up play well and contributed in defensive situations.

Substitutes:

• Adam Webster (46′ for Dunk) – 6.6/10
• Diego Gomez (67′ for Hinshelwood) – 6.9/10
• Yasin Ayari (75′ for Baleba) – 6.0/10
• Joao Pedro (75′ for Rutter) – 6.4/10

Chelsea Player Ratings (4-2-3-1)

• GK: Robert Sanchez – 5.6/10
  Made a few decent saves, but his distribution was poor and did little to inspire confidence.
• RB: Malo Gusto – 5.6/10
  Struggled defensively and failed to make a significant impact going forward.
• CB: Tosin Adarabioyo – 6.4/10
  A steady performance, but lacked support at times as Brighton piled on the pressure.
• CB: Trevoh Chalobah – 6.3/10
  Tough match for Chalobah, who couldn’t keep up with Brighton’s attacking flow.
• LB: Marc Cucurella – 6.4/10
  Limited impact in both attack and defense, with little service to the forwards.
• DM: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 5.9/10
  Struggled to control midfield, and his substitution came as no surprise.
• DM: Moises Caicedo – 7.0/10
  Chelsea’s best performer, breaking up Brighton’s play and distributing the ball well.
• RM: Pedro Neto – 5.9/10
  A quiet game, contributing little to Chelsea’s attacking play.
• AM: Cole Palmer – 6.5/10
  Scored from a corner but failed to have an impact thereafter.
• LM: Jadon Sancho – 6.1/10
  Not involved enough in the game, lacking the creativity Chelsea desperately needed.
• ST: Christopher Nkunku – 6.4/10
  Dropped deep to help in buildup play, but lacked presence in the final third.

Substitutes:

• Enzo Fernandez (58′ for Dewsbury-Hall) – 6.5/10
  Brought some control to midfield but couldn’t help Chelsea find an equalizer.
• Noni Madueke (74′ for Neto) – 5.6/10
  Failed to make a significant impact after coming on.
• Tyrique George (74′ for Sancho) – 5.6/10
  Struggled to make a difference in attack or defense.

Chelsea’s FA Cup Journey Ends: What’s Next?

Chelsea’s elimination from the FA Cup signals a significant blow to their season. With their attacking woes evident, the Blues will need to rethink their approach under Enzo Maresca. Brighton, on the other hand, displayed resilience and quality to book their place in the fifth round, much to the delight of their fans.

What changes do you think Chelsea need to make to bounce back from this disappointing defeat? Share your thoughts in the comments below!