Brighton 3-0 Chelsea: Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh help Seagulls humble toothless Chelsea

Kaoru Mitoma scored one of the goals of the season and Yankuba Minteh was on target in each half as Brighton humbled Chelsea with a thumping 3-0 victory.

A toothless Chelsea dominated possession throughout but couldn’t manage a single shot on target. The only save Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen had to make was from his teammate Adam Webster.

Verbruggen set up Brighton’s first goal in the 27th minute with a 70-yard pass that was controlled magnificently by Mitoma as it dropped over his shoulder. In the same movement he veered inside Trevoh Chalobah before curling a low shot into the far corner.

It was the latest in a portfolio of glorious goals from Mitoma, who turned down a potential £54m move to the Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr last month.

Minteh doubled Brighton’s lead 11 minutes later, calmly stepping inside Marc Cucurella before beating Filip Jorgensen.

Cucurella, booed throughout by Brighton fans, was beaten too easily again when Minteh finished the game as a contest in the 63rd minute. After combining neatly with Danny Welbeck, Minteh cut inside Cucurella and drove a deflected shot past Jorgensen.

The substitute Joao Pedro missed two good chances to make it 4-0 before Jorgensen pushed Joel Veltman’s shot onto the post. It was a desperate night for Chelsea, who also lost Noni Madueke to injury in the first half. They stay in fourth for now, but they will be looking over their shoulder.

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That win lifts Brighton from 10th to 8th. They are right in the race for European football.

Brighton have beaten Chelsea for the second time in seven days - but while the FA Cup game was tight, this was a hammering. Chelsea were toothless and didn't manage a single shot on target. Brighton repeatedly picked them off in transition and might have scored more.

As it is they had to settle for the most glorious goal from Kaoru Mitoma, whose first touch from Bart Verbruggen's 70-yard pass will be replayed until the end of time, and two smart finishes from Yankuba Minteh. Everything that is good about Brighton was on show tonight.

Lamptey breaks into the area but slices wide from a tight angle with his left foot.

One small positive for Chelsea is the performance of the teenage substitute Tyrique George, who has been far more threatening than Chelsea's more decorated wide players.

Chelsea just want to get off the pitch and on the team bus.

Simon Adingra comes on for Yankuba Minteh, who played superbly on the right wing and scored a goal in each half.

Verburggen makes his first save of the night - to deny one of his teammates. George's sharp cutback was diverted towards his own goal by the stretching Webster, and Verbruggen reacted really smartly to kick it behind.

Ayari's first contribution is a delicious chip over the outrushing Chelsea defence to find Veltman, whose close-range flick is diverted onto the post by Jorgensen. That's a terrific reaction save.

Yasin Ayari and Matt O'Riley come on for Carlos Baleba, who was outstanding in midfield, and Danny Welbeck.

Brighton have played 195 successful passes to Chelsea's 528; they've also had four shots on target to Chelsea's none.

Minteh's curling free-kick from the left is headed over at the near post by Joao Pedro, who rose well but couldn't keep his header down. That's another pretty good chance.

Enzo Maresca's side still haven't had a shot on target and the home fans - who have seen so many players and staff poached by Chelsea - are reveling in their misery.

Joao Pedro and Diego Gomez replace Georginio Rutter and Jack Hinshelwood.

Joao Pedro has a great chance straight away when Jorgensen boots the ball straight to him, 25 yards from goal. Joao Pedro controls it deftly but then shoots high over the bar. He should have done better: there was a defender between him and the goal but Jorgensen was out of the game.

Chelsea win two corners in quick succession. Brighton break from the second after a lovely turn and pass from Rutter to Mitoma. He runs 70 yards and eventually whacks a left-footed shot that is straight into the chest of Jorgensen.

Mitoma was looking for the pass but couldn't find the right angle.

Since their memorable 4-3 win at Spurs in December, Chelsea have picked up only two points from five away games in the Premier League.

Reece James, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Tyrique George replace Malo Gusto, Moises Caicedo and Pedro Neto.

Enzo Fernandez was booked just after the goal, it's not clear why.

All over at the Amex surely. Chelsea are complaining that there was a foul by Welbeck on Colwill, whose errant pass out of defence ultimately led to the goal, but there wasn't much in it and it was quickly cleared by VAR.

Minteh received a clever return pass from Welbeck on the right side of the area, cut inside Cucurella far too easily and drove a low shot that took a slight deflection off Chalobath and flashed past Jorgensen at the near post.