Player Ratings: Cucurella Impresses in Defeat, Nkunku Struggles in FA Cup Loss to Brighton
BRIGHTON mounted a thrilling comeback, knocking Chelsea out of the FA Cup as Kaoru Mitoma’s masterful chip sealed a 2-1 win at the Amex Stadium.
The game began at a frantic pace, with two goals scored in the opening twelve minutes. Bart Verbruggen made an unusual blunder when trying to deal with a cross from Cole Palmer, inadvertently sending the ball into his own net and handing Chelsea a 1-0 advantage just five minutes into the match.
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Brighton quickly found their equalizer with a well-timed header from Georginio Rutter.
The remainder of the first half was fiercely contested, yet neither side managed to create meaningful chances. Both teams were committed in their challenges, resulting in yellow cards for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Joel Veltman due to strong tackles.
In the second half, Brighton took the lead; after a close call for a possible handball, Kaoru Mitoma expertly lobbed the ball over former Brighton keeper Robert Sanchez to score in the 57th minute.
Chelsea struggled to recover following the setback, largely due to the absence of a reliable striker, which significantly hindered Enzo Maresca’s squad.
Curious about how Chelsea’s players performed? Check out SunSport’s player ratings below to find out who fell short and who excelled:
Robert Sanchez – 5
Returned to the starting eleven after being benched by Enzo Maresca for past mistakes. The Spanish goalkeeper began nervously but improved as the match evolved.
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He couldn’t do anything about Brighton’s first goal, as Rutter’s perfectly placed header sailed past him.
He may have been slow off his line for Brighton’s second goal, yet Mitoma’s stunning chip deserved recognition.
Cole Palmer showcases his scoring ability during Chelsea Training
Malo Gusto – 5
Gusto worked hard along the right flank for Chelsea, yet was unable to have a significant impact either offensively or defensively.
He had difficulty containing the threatening Kaoru Mitoma and lost his position leading up to the Japanese forward’s decisive goal.
Tosin Adarabioyo – 5
Teamed with Trevoh Chalobah, he allowed Georginio Rutter the space to score Brighton’s equalizer.
Despite several confident passes, he became a liability at times, getting caught on the ball by Rutter, almost resulting in another Brighton goal.
Trevoh Chalobah – 6
Like his defensive partner, he was partly at fault for Brighton’s opening goal by permitting Rutter a clear shot.
Nevertheless, he displayed composure on the ball and looked to be Chelsea’s best center-back after returning from loan.
Marc Cucurella – 6
Subject to the home crowd’s jeers throughout, Cucurella was booed every time he touched the ball.
Despite the crowd’s reaction, he performed reasonably well but lacked the attacking threat he had shown in previous matches.
Moises Caicedo – 6
Caicedo appeared to be dominating the midfield before Enzo Fernandez’s arrival in the second half.
He worked tirelessly but was visibly frustrated with his teammates’ performance, leading to several bookings.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 4
Dewsbury-Hall’s surprising start failed to make a notable impact.
An early poor challenge led to a booking, and he had little effect both offensively and defensively in the first half.
He was substituted for Enzo Fernandez shortly after Brighton’s second goal.
Pedro Neto – 5
Neto struggled with an injury in the first half, which hampered his performance.
He showed some confidence against Tariq Lamptey but struggled to deliver, with many of his crosses missing the target.
Cole Palmer – 6
Contributed to Chelsea’s opening goal with a well-placed cross, although it’s hard to attribute that as a significant play given Verbruggen’s mistake.
He seemed to miss his usual attacking partner, Nicolas Jackson, as his chemistry with Christopher Nkunku was lacking.
Jadon Sancho – 5
Sancho appeared disinterested at times during the first half and failed to track Joel Veltman, who assisted Brighton’s opener.
He improved in the second half with some direct runs but failed to provide the finishing touch.
