29/05 - 20:00
Chelsea kicked off the Premier League Summer Series with a thrilling 4-3 victory against Brighton in Philadelphia.
Brighton took the lead in the 13th minute when Danny Welbeck scored after Billy Gilmour set up Kaoru Mitoma, and the winger's header found Welbeck, who found the back of the net.
Mauricio Pochettino's men responded just seven minutes later with a messy finish from summer signing Christopher Nkunku, after good work from Carney Chukwuemenka.
On the hour mark, Brighton's Jan Paul van Heck received his second yellow card for a rough challenge on Cesare Casadei, leaving the Seagulls with only ten players for the rest of the match.
The Blues capitalised on their numerical advantage shortly after, as Mykhailo Mudryk scored a sensational half-volley from outside the penalty area.
Connor Gallagher added a third goal for Chelsea in the 72nd minute, while new signing Nicolas Jackson broke free from Brighton's defense to score his debut goal for Chelsea, making it 4-1.
Despite the Londoners appeared to be in control, Roberto De Zerbi's side had other plans. Brighton's target, Levi Colwill, conceded a penalty, and Seagulls' new number nine Joao Pedro, converted from the spot.
In the 89th minute, Pedro made an impressive run along the left wing and set up Deniz Undav in the middle of the penalty area, who confidently placed the ball into the right corner of the net.
Nevertheless, Chelsea managed to hold on to their lead, securing their second victory in the pre-season campaign, despite Brighton's late comeback attempts.
4-3 | ||
Christopher Nkunku 19' Mykhaylo Mudryk 65' Conor Gallagher 72' Nicolas Jackson 76' | Danny Welbeck 13' João Pedro 79' (pen.) Deniz Undav 89' |
