In the early hours of May 16, the Premier League played 2 make-up matches. Seventh-placed Chelsea travel to 10th-placed Brighton. In the first half, Palmer's goal gave the Blues the lead; In the second half, substitute Nkunku scored a goal and Reece James was sent off with a red card for a malicious foul, and Welbeck pulled one back for the home side just before the break. In the end, Chelsea won 2-1 away at Brighton and Hove Albion, making it four consecutive league wins! In the standings, it surpassed Newcastle, which lost to Manchester United, by 3 points, and rose to 6th in the league, and entered the Europa League next season!
Chelsea have been in fine form of late, winning three consecutive Premier League games under Mauricio Pochettilo for the second time this season and moving up to seventh, just behind Newcastle on goal difference. In the last 13 league games, the Blues have lost just one 0-5 against Arsenal, with seven wins and five draws in the remaining 12 games, taking 26 points. Brighton, meanwhile, have won just one of their last eight league games and lost as many as four.
In the starting line-up, with Enzo continuing to be sidelined through injury, Pochettilo brought on Conor Gallagher and Caicedo as a back two, with Mykhailo Mudryk, Palmer and Madueke ahead of them, and Jacques as the lone arrow. At the back, Trevoh Chalobah and Benoit Badiashile partnered in central defence, with Marc Cucurella and Gusto on either side, while 39-year-old veteran Thiago Silva, who has announced his departure after the season, and Reece James, who provided the final assist on the pitch, were both on the bench.
In the third minute, Madueke burst into the box with the ball on the right, but his subsequent low left-footed shot was quickly saved by goalkeeper Februhen. In the 10th minute, Lamptey's half-high ball from the right flank was passed into the penalty area, and Adingra stopped the ball and turned and shot slightly wide of the left post. In the 16th minute, Cucurella dribbled into the box and was tackled by Brighton winger Bonanot, and the referee awarded a penalty at the first time, but then cancelled the penalty after watching VAR.
In the 26th minute, Gusto's long-range shot in front of the penalty area was deflected off the opposing player, and Februgen flew to lift the ball over the crossbar. In the 34th minute, Gallagher sent a through plug on the left side, Cucurella inserted a cross, and Palmer shook his head into the far corner of the goal, 1-0! Chelsea take the lead on the road.
It was also Palmer's 25th goal for Chelsea this season and registered 14 assists, 39 goals alone! In the league, Palmer is second in the scorer list behind Erling Haaland's 27 goals with 22 goals. In addition, Palmer has provided 10 assists in the league and has been directly involved in 32 goals in a single season in the Premier League, surpassing Eden Hazard's 16 goals and 15 assists in 2018-2019 and directly involved in 31 goals.
In the 44th minute, Gusto sent a cross from the right, and Palmer's left-footed shot from inside the box hit the opposing player and deflected wide of the goal. In the 45+4th minute, Madueke crossed from the right, and Jacquesson nodded the ball to the goal, but unfortunately it was ruled offside and the goal was invalidated. At half-time, Chelsea led Brighton 1-0 away.
In the second half, in the 55th minute, Chelsea played a counter-attacking opportunity, Jacquesson led straight to the penalty area on the right, and when Palmer and Nkunku were outflanked in the middle, the former hesitated a little, and the cross was destroyed by the opposing defender, missing a good opportunity to expand the score.
In the 64th minute, Madueke made a direct pass from the right, Gusto inserted a low flat ball at high speed, and Nkunku outflanked the goal in the middle, 2-0! It was the Frenchman's first goal for the Blues in more than three months, having played just 360 league minutes for Chelsea this season, scoring three goals. After the goal, Nkunku celebrated with balloons.
In the 75th minute, Adingra's left-footed shot from the right after cutting inside on the right went over the crossbar. In the 88th minute, substitute Reece James fell to the ground near the halfway line and maliciously kicked Pedro, and the referee directly showed a red card after watching VAR and sent the Blues captain off! In the 90+7th minute, Pedro assisted, and Welbeck grabbed a point in front of the goal, 1-2! Brighton pulled one back, but it was too late.
In the end, Chelsea defeated Brighton 2-1 away, won 4 consecutive league wins, 8 wins, 5 draws and 1 loss in the last 14 rounds of the league and slashed 29 points, surpassing Newcastle and rising to 6th place in the league, and only 3 points away from Tottenham in front of him, and it is a foregone conclusion to enter the European competition next season! Mauricio Pochettino's second half of the season has also raised expectations for the Blues' performance next season.