Game Recap: Brighton & Hove Albion 1-2 Chelsea

In an English Premier League clash, Brighton & Hove Albion took on Chelsea at the American Express Stadium in Falmer, East Sussex. It was an intense match that had fans on the edge of their seats.

The game started with an early booking for Brighton's Lewis Dunk in the 29th minute. However, it was Chelsea who took the lead in the 34th minute, thanks to a well-executed header from Cole Palmer, assisted by Marc Cucurella.

Brighton fans felt that the referee was favoring Chelsea, especially when Tariq Lamptey escaped a red card after catching Mykhailo Mudryk in the face. Mudryk had to leave the field with a concussion.

In the second half, Christopher Nkunku extended Chelsea's lead with a right-footed shot in the 64th minute, assisted by Malo Gusto. Brighton tried to make a comeback, and their efforts paid off in the 90+7th minute when Danny Welbeck found the back of the net with a right-footed shot, assisted by João Pedro.

The match was not short of drama, as Chelsea's Reece James received a straight red card in the 87th minute for violent conduct. Despite being down to ten men, Chelsea held on to secure a crucial 2-1 victory.

The referee's decisions and the use of VAR were heavily criticized throughout the match. Fans felt that the referee lacked conviction and made questionable decisions. The 19 minutes of added time and the selective VAR checks added to the controversy.

Despite the focus on the refereeing, Chelsea fans were delighted with the three points, as it kept their hopes alive for a higher league position. The win put Chelsea in 6th place in the Premier League table.

Looking ahead, Brighton & Hove Albion will face Manchester United in their next game, while Chelsea will take on AFC Bournemouth.