Yankuba Minteh helped Brighton to a second triumph over Chelsea in a week, as they followed up their FA Cup win with a 3-0 victory in the Premier League on Friday.
Match Report
Minteh, who had only scored three league goals ahead of this fixture, scored either side of half-time to lead his side back to winning ways in the top-flight.
The Seagulls went ahead in the 27th minute when Kaoru Mitoma sensationally plucked Bart Verbruggen's ball out of the sky before placing it beyond Filip Jorgensen's grasp.
Enzo Fernandez thought he had hauled Chelsea level eight minutes later, but saw his goal ruled out after he was judged to have pushed Joel Veltman before heading home.
Brighton edged further ahead seven minutes before the break when Minteh finished from close range, tucking the ball home after good work from Danny Welbeck in the box.
Minteh then sealed the win with his second of the game just after the hour, squeezing the ball in at the near post, with a potential foul on Levi Colwill in the build-up waved away.
The Seagulls, not content with their lead, almost added a fourth, with Mitoma seeing his effort saved before Veltman saw his strike pushed on to the post by Jorgensen.
Brighton moved up two places and into eighth ahead of the rest of the weekend's action. Chelsea, meanwhile, stay in the top four, though could drop out on Saturday.
Data Debrief: Double bubble
Despite beating Chelsea in the FA Cup in their last competitive match, Brighton were still licking their wounds from their humiliating 7-0 thrashing to Nottingham Forest, but they responded in style to earn a much-needed victory at the Amex Stadium.
Indeed, Brighton enjoyed their first home win in six games in the Premier League (D3 L2), while it was their joint-biggest victory in the competition over a side starting the day in the top four, along with a 3-0 win v Arsenal in May 2023 under Roberto De Zerbi.
They also beat the same opponent twice within seven days for the first time ever as a top-flight club and the first time overall since November 2007 (v Cheltenham Town).
But the triumph was inspired by Minteh, who bagged his first-ever brace in English football, while he has now been directly involved in four goals in his last four Premier League games (three goals, one assist), one more than in his first 16 outings in the competition combined (three).
For Chelsea, meanwhile, they are now winless in five away matches in the Premier League (D2 L3), while they have picked up just nine points from their last nine top-flight games (W2 D3 L4), after taking 34 points from their first sixteen this season (W10 D4 L2 – 2.1 pts per game on average).
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
4' Gusto finds Palmer about 25 yards from goal but his shot is way over the top!
13' Welbeck attacks but shoots from poor angle forcing corner after Caicedo tackle!
18' Nkunku finds Madueke, he pulls it back for Palmer but his shot horribly wide!
20' Madueke limps off down the tunnel as Jadon Sancho makes his way onto the pitch!
21' Match Event for Brighton vs Chelsea
27' GOAL! Kaoru Mitoma takes it & bends it into the far corner! Brighton 1-0 Chelsea
30' Highlight from Brighton vs Chelsea
35' Enzo scores but protests as Kavanagh calls a foul for his push on a defender!
38' GOAL! Yankuba Minteh makes no mistake from close range! Brighton 2-0 Chelsea
41' Gusto tries to find the top corner with decent effort but it's not on target!
42' Yellow Card! Caicedo booked for coming flying in and wipes out Kaoru Mitoma!
62' GOAL! Minteh fires past Filip Jorgensen at his near post! Brighton 3-0 Chelsea
64' Neto, Caicedo & Gusto all make way for Dewsbury-Hall, James & Tyrique George!
72' Brighton craft a 2v1 chance, but Mitoma's weak shot goes straight to Jorgensen!
74' Second change for Brighton with Georginio Rutter making way for Joao Pedro!
75' Highlight from Brighton vs Chelsea
78' Minteh delivers a perfect cross to Pedro, who heads it wide! A missed chance!
85' Ayari dinks lovely ball over top for Veltman and he crashes one off the post!
Line-ups
Brighton XI: Webster, Welbeck, Veltman, Kaoru Mitoma, Tariq Lamptey, Georginio Rutter, Jan Paul van Hecke, Bart Verbruggen, Carlos Baleba, Yankuba Minteh, Jack Hinshelwood
Subs: Matt O'Riley, Mats Wieffer, João Pedro, Eiran Cashin, Yasin Ayari, Carl Rushworth, Diego Gómez, Simon Adingra, Brajan Gruda
Chelsea XI: Cucurella, Trevoh Chalobah, Nkunku, Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer, Madueke, Jørgensen, Enzo, Caicedo, Colwill, Gusto
Subs: Adarabioyo, Sancho, Reece James, Robert Sánchez, Dewsbury-Hall, Josh Acheampong, Tyrique George, Mathis Amougou, Aarón Anselmino