Chelsea suffer FA Cup exit as Mitoma seals Brighton win
Chelsea’s FA Cup campaign came to an end as Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma scored a late winner to secure a 2-1 victory in the fourth round. The defeat left Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca frustrated as he pointed out that the only shots Brighton had in the second half resulted in goals.
The match started in Chelsea’s favor when Brighton’s goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen made a costly mistake, fumbling Cole Palmer’s cross into his own net in the fifth minute. However, Chelsea failed to capitalize on their lead, allowing Brighton to equalize through Georginio Rutter just seven minutes later.
In the second half, Mitoma sealed Brighton’s comeback with a well-placed finish past Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, despite Chelsea’s protests for a handball. Maresca acknowledged the controversial nature of the goal but lamented his team’s inability to convert their chances.
Meanwhile, Manchester City faced a tough challenge against Leyton Orient, with the third-tier side taking the lead early in the game. City eventually turned the tide with goals from Abdukodir Khusanov and Kevin De Bruyne, securing a 2-1 victory.
City manager Pep Guardiola praised the FA Cup’s unpredictability and the resilience of lower-league teams. He also highlighted the impact of De Bruyne, whose late goal proved decisive in City’s win.
Other FA Cup Results
In other FA Cup matches, Newcastle came from behind to beat Birmingham 3-2, while Southampton suffered a 1-0 defeat against Burnley. Everton fell to a 2-0 loss against Bournemouth, and Fulham secured a 2-1 win over Wigan with Rodrigo Muniz scoring twice.
Additionally, Ipswich recorded a convincing 4-1 victory over Coventry, and Millwall advanced to the fifth round with a 2-0 win against Championship leaders Leeds, courtesy of Femi Azeez’s brace.
