January 19, (THEWILL) – On Tuesday night, Brighton and Hove Albion effectively ended Chelsea’s faint title chances by holding the Blues to a second 1-1 draw in as many weeks at the American Express Community Stadium.
Chelsea led at halftime despite a horribly disorganised first half in which they were consistently and uncharacteristically second best.
Brighton got off to a fast start and almost took the lead after just three minutes when Jakub Moder’s low shot went just past Kepa Arrizabalaga’s far post.
Chelsea could not manage a shot until a quarter of an hour had passed, having been held back by their lively hosts. Cesar Azpilicueta shot Romelu Lukaku’s lay-off towards the top corner, but Robert Sanchez, his international teammate, was able to get a solid palm to the ball.
However, before the half-hour mark, the keeper’s wrists suffered some ill-timed floppiness. Chelsea took the lead against the run of play when Hakim Ziyech’s precise drive beat him at his near post.
After being played in by Lukaku, the visitors just about got their feet and should have extended their advantage on the stroke of half-time, but Callum Hudson-Odoi lacked control and blazed his shot wide.
On the hour mark, Brighton were rightfully level. Kepa spectacularly stopped Alexis Mac Allister’s deflected shot, but Adam Webster met the resultant corner unmarked and delivered a bullet header into the net.
Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso fired a long-range drive barely over the bar in an attempt to reclaim the lead, but Brighton remained in command. Neal Maupay, Brighton’s substitute, missed three great half-chances for the winner, including misjudging Tariq Lamptey’s pull-back and allowing a through-ball to strike his heels as he was slid in on goal.
Following that, both sides huffed and puffed, but neither could find a winner. Chelsea are now two points behind Liverpool in second place in the Premier League, having played two more games, while Brighton remain in ninth place.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
