Brighton 2 Chelsea 1: Misfiring Blues dumped out of FA Cup despite Seagulls keeper Verbruggen giving them head start

KAORU MITOMA’s stunning finish spared Bart Verbruggen’s blushes as Brighton roared back to KO Chelsea.

Keeper Verbruggen’s own goal was overturned by a Georginio Rutter header and Mitoma’s deft lob on 57 minutes.

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Kaoru Mitoma hails his stunning goal for Brighton[/caption]

PA

Winger Mitoma superbly put Brighton in front just before the hour[/caption]

It means Enzo Maresca’s Blues are stuttering badly, with now just three wins from their past two games.

Verbruggen somehow fumbled in Cole Palmer’s low shot in just the fifth minute.

But Brighton responded perfectly, Rutter soon soaring between Blues defenders Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo to head home Joel Veltman’s cross.

And on 57 minutes the home side grabbed their winner.

Mitoma brilliantly latched onto a through pass to nick the past Robert Sanchez.

Yankuba Minteh was the main attacking menace for Brighton.

And below-par Chelsea relied too much for inspiration on Palmer.

The Blues did have plenty of possession but the Seagulls defied them with strong organisation.

Chelsea stormed forward late on – going close late on.

But Brighton just deserved to cling on.

AFP

Seagulls’ keeper Bart Verbruggen bagged Chelsea’s own-goal opener[/caption]

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Cole Palmer saw his shot deflect in to put the Blues ahead[/caption]

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Georginio Rutter soared to make it 1-1 after just 12 minutes[/caption]