The Premier League matchday 34 makeup game last night featured a clash between Chelsea and Brighton. The match ended with a 2-1 victory for Chelsea, securing their spot in the European competition group.
Chelsea entered the match with the crucial mission of securing 6th place in the standings, which would mean qualifying for European competition next season. Meanwhile, Brighton had no remaining objectives, sitting mid-table and displaying poor form with only one win in their last eight games.
This difference in motivation was evident in the match, as Chelsea pressed their opponents hard. In the 15th minute, the referee awarded The Blues a penalty, but it was overturned by VAR.
In the 33rd minute, Cole Palmer opened the scoring for the home team with a powerful header after a precise cross from Marc Cucurella. The ball flew into the top corner, leaving the Brighton goalkeeper no chance.
The first half ended with a score of 1-0. Moving into the second half, Brighton showed more determination. They did not want to end their last home game of the season with another defeat. Although they had some good chances, they couldn’t capitalize, and the second goal soon followed.
In the 63rd minute, Christopher Nkunku scored the second goal after receiving a creative pass from Malo Gusto. He drilled the ball into the bottom corner, leaving the Brighton goalkeeper helpless.
The game then became a back-and-forth affair. Chelsea focused on playing securely, while Brighton struggled to find a breakthrough. Their chances improved only after Reece James received a red card in the 88th minute.
With the numerical advantage, Brighton finally found an equalizer in the 7th minute of stoppage time. Danny Welbeck was the scorer.
The match ended with a 2-1 victory for Chelsea. Pochettino’s squad has now won four consecutive matches, overtaking Newcastle to secure 6th place in the standings. They are on the verge of qualifying for European competition next season. Chelsea will only need to secure 1 point against Bournemouth on May 19th to achieve their goal.