Julio Enciso scored a stunning winner to help Brighton produce one of the narrow football scores of the weekend in the Premier League. The Blues’ latest defeat, they’re fifth in a row in the Premier League, left Frank Lampard’s side in the bottom half ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League second leg against Real Madrid. Brighton was denied a win over Tottenham last weekend due to a series of VAR calls, and while they had two more penalty demands waved away in the first half on Saturday, they capitalized on their dominance to complete the double over their hosts.
Enciso is only 19 years old, yet he scored a goal he will remember for the rest of his life in 69 minutes, rocketing a strike into the top corner from 30 yards before being carried aloft by his teammates in front of the away section. He had hit the post from a tight angle a few minutes earlier as Brighton sustained their first-half pressure, which had resulted in a fair equaliser for replacement Danny Welbeck after Conor Gallagher’s deflection opener. It was a statement performance from Roberto De Zerbi’s side, who had given a similar indication of their direction when they crushed Chelsea 4-1 in October.
The fortuitous Gallagher goal snapped a six-hour and 27-minute goal drought for Chelsea, but their problems were evident throughout the game, with the visitors outshooting them by 26 shots to eight. It will need a significant improvement in performance levels to overcome a 2-0 deficit against Real Madrid. The outcome places Chelsea 11th in the Premier League, closer to the bottom in terms of points than fourth. But Brighton, who hit the crossbar early on through Evan Ferguson before being hurt, are only seven points behind Manchester United, who hold the final Champions League qualification slot. They play United in the FA Cup semi-finals next Sunday at Wembley.
A banner in tribute to interim manager Lampard was unfurled before kick-off, and his name was sung by the home fans, but after defeats to Wolves and Real Madrid since his return, he was in desperate need of a morale-boosting performance and result from his side on his return to Stamford Bridge. However, it did not come to fruition. Lampard made six changes from the Champions League defeat to Real Madrid in preparation for the forthcoming encounter. Mykhailo Mudryk’s storming run was finished off by Gallagher – who had been played in an advanced role – thanks to a spectacular deflection from Lewis Dunk that gave Robert Sanchez no chance in the Brighton goal.
Chelsea’s overall performance was marred by all of these alterations. By that point, Brighton had already hit the side-netting and the crossbar with Ferguson’s attempt from the edge of the box, and Kaoru Mitoma and Alexis Mac Allister had thrown a succession of efforts at goal in response to falling behind. Brighton had three VAR decisions against them last week against Tottenham, and there were two in the opening 45 minutes on Saturday, with Dunk claiming Enzo Fernandez had hauled him back at a corner before Christian Pulisic appeared to handle in the area. Those choices would not be as costly this time.
Ferguson drew a superb save from Kepa Arrizabalaga but injured himself in the process and was taken off. Enter Welbeck, who equalized at Chelsea last season with his first touch, nodding in off the back post two minutes and 30 seconds after coming on. Brighton continued to control possession after the half, with Kepa making a save from Enciso. Lampard made four substitutions, but it had no effect, as Enciso hit the post from a tight angle after outmuscling Reece James and Trevoh Chalobah.
At the other end, Sanchez was finally put into action, stopping Gallagher, but it was Brighton who celebrated when Enciso picked up the ball in space outside the Chelsea area and rocketed into the top corner. A goal fit for a championship. Chelsea attempted a late attack on Brighton’s goal and got increasingly desperate in their search for a comeback, but for the second time this season, they lacked a cutting edge in front of goal. In the end, they only had two shots on goal against Brighton’s ten. This was not the confidence boost they needed ahead of the visit of Champions League holders Real Madrid, but Brighton will remain optimistic.
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