Premier League: Enzo Fernandez Nets Double As 10-Man Chelsea Narrowly Beat Brighton

 

Chelsea narrowly made away with 3-2 home victory against Brighton with Enzo Fernandes scoring a brace despite the side playing 10-man with the exit of Conor Gallagher. 

Fernandez put Chelsea ahead by nodding home Benoit Badiashile's overhead volley following a corner by Gallagher. Levi Colwell doubled the lead four minutes later, nodding home Nicolas Jackson's header pass following a corner. 

Brighton pulled one back as Adam Lallana's pass set off Facundo Buonanotte for a delightful curly shot that beat Sanchez to the goal minutes before Chelsea lost Gallagher to a red card. 

10-man Chelsea added in the third goal after halftime from a penalty converted by Fernandez, which was drawn by  Mykhalio Mudryk after Jackson set him off for a counter. Brighton later responded and narrowed the lead with the second goal from Joao Pedro's header that beat Sanchez following a corner from James Milner. 

Quick Overview

Though, Chelsea got off to an impressive start, it later turned unpleasant with Gallagher's red card moments after the seansational strike from Facundo. Hence, Brighton's sloppy start turned around and Chelsea now had a lot of work on their hands. 

Blues had had their opponents in the backfoot for much of the first half and they could not ask for better strikes from Fernnandez and Colwel. Both goals were the players' first in the Premier League. Meanwhile, Brighton didn't appear to be as though they can make a comeback until Facundo struck. 

Much of the second half saw a more defensive Chelsea and held off potential scare from their opponents. Mudryk drawing a penalty for Fernandez to convert had put 10-man Chelsea on the path to a comfortable victory until Joao Pedro's header restored Brighton back into the game. 

Kaoru Mitoma had repeatedly burrowed through Chelsea's defense in search for goals before Pedro eventually got one in. Brighton played deep into Chelsea's half for much of the second period but an equalizer eluded them with great efforts from James Milner and Pedro both of whom came in substitutes.