Chelsea’s FA Cup run ended in disappointment at the fourth-round stage after a 2-1 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday evening.
Following last week’s crushing 7-0 Premier League defeat to Nottingham Forest, Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton side put on a spirited display to secure a well-deserved victory, dashing Enzo Maresca’s hopes of lifting a domestic cup in his debut season as Chelsea manager.
The Blues got off to a dream start when Cole Palmer’s cross was mishandled by Bart Verbruggen, who fumbled the ball into his own net within five minutes.
However, Brighton responded swiftly, with Georginio Rutter rising highest to nod home a brilliant header, restoring parity after a dominant first-half performance.
Kaoru Mitoma gave Brighton the lead early in the second half with a superb lob, and Chelsea struggled to find a way back into the match.
Despite some half-chances, the visitors failed to create any real threats, ultimately watching their last shot at domestic silverware slip away without much resistance.
It’s only the third time Chelsea have failed to progress from the FA Cup fourth round in their last 28 attempts, with previous early exits coming against Everton (2010-11) and Bradford City (2014-15).
For Brighton, the victory was a perfect response to their recent 7-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest, as Fabian Hurzeler’s men cruised into the fifth round with minimal fuss.
