Chelsea were beaten 4-1 by Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday afternoon as their unbeaten start under Graham Potter came to an end on his return to the Amex Stadium.
A miserable first half saw the hosts net three past the Blues, and despite a stronger second half which included a Kai Havertz consolation goal, Brighton held out for their first win under Roberto De Zerbi.
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Brighton took an early lead inside five minute when Leandro Trossard punished Thiago Silva's mistake inside five minutes. An own goal from Ruben Loftus-Cheek put Brighton 2-0 up after 14 minutes.
Chelsea conceded a second own goal just before the half-time break when Trevoh Chalobah turned in Pervis Estupinan's cross to make it 3-0.
Kai Havertz pulled a goal back for Chelsea as he headed in Conor Gallagher's fantastic cross three minutes into the second half.
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But Pascal Gross sealed the win in stoppage time after scoring from close range to seal a fine win for the Seagulls.
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Brighton nearly took the lead in the opening three minutes. Thiago Silva's clearance was poor and it fell to Leandro Trossard, but Silva made up for his error as he cleared the lob off the line.
But two minutes later, Brighton did take the lead through Trossard. Silva made another defensive error. The ball fell to Kaoru Mitoma who squared it to Trossard - his quick feet rounded Kepa Arrizabalaga and he struck into the back of the net.
Brighton doubled their lead in the 14th minute. Ruben Loftus-Cheek stuck a leg out from a cross and turned it into his own net to inflict more misery on the visitors early on.
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Chelsea should've pulled one back soon after. Conor Gallagher's initial effort was saved by Robert Sanchez, before Christian Pulisic fired the rebound off target.
Gallagher had another chance but Sanchez matched to keep their two goal lead by parrying away his header away to safety. Kai Havertz was the next to have a chance, but Sanchez was there again.
But it was 3-0 to Brighton just before the break. Another own goal as Trevoh Chalobah turned Pervis Estupinan's cross past Kepa into his own net.
Kepa was struggling in the first half with a problem and Potter decided to make a change at the break by bringing on Edouard Mendy.
Chelsea responded well in the second half and pulled one back three minutes in. Conor Gallagher whipped a ball into the box and Havertz headed past Sanchez to reduce the deficit.
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Potter made more changes past the hour mark as Chelsea searched to reduce the lead. Ben Chilwell and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang replaced Marc Cucurella and Raheem Sterling.
Aubameyang had a quick chance to find the net as he cut in from the left-hand side, but his right-footed effort was comfortably parried away by Sanchez.
Graham Potter threw the kitchen sink with 11 minutes to go. He made his final two changes, bringing on Hakim Ziyech and Armando Broja to replace Conor Gallagher and Christian Pulisic.
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Havertz had a chance to get his second and pull Chelsea to within one goal of Brighton, but he could only blaze Loftus-Cheek cut-back well over the bar with four minutes to go.
Pascal Gross wrapped up the win in stoppage time as he tapped in from close range after Edouard Mendy’s double parried save.
It ended in defeat and misery, not the way Potter had hoped on his return to the south coast. His first taste of defeat as Chelsea head coach.
They have a Champions League game in midweek where the pressure is off due to already finishing top of their group. But a run of games against Arsenal, Man City and Newcastle before the World Cup break then await. A big few games for Chelsea.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Brighton And Hove Albion, Chelsea, Football, Premier League
