Brighton and Hove Albion 1 Chelsea 2
Albion lost their penultimate game of the season after an incident-packed match with a sending off and an overturned penalty.
Cole Palmer helped steer Chelsea a step closer to European qualification by claiming his 22nd Premier League goal of the season in a pulsating win at the Amex.
The in-form England forward, who was targeted by the Seagulls before joining the Blues from Manchester City last summer, headed home the opener in the 34th minute.
Substitute Christopher Nkunku secured the west London club’s fourth consecutive league victory to dent Brighton’s hopes of a top-half finish.
A positive evening for the visitors was dampened slightly when another sub, Reece James, received a late red card for kicking out at Joao Pedro, before Danny Welbeck claimed an added-time consolation goal.
Pedro also hit the bar while while Simon Adingra struck a post before Welbeck grabbed his goal and Albion had a strong penalty claim waved away with the score 1-0.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side had a spot-kick award overturned earlier after a VAR intervention in a match in which Seagulls skipper Lewis Dunk came off at half-time.
Chelsea’s previous visit was a humbling 4-1 defeat in October 2022 when former boss Graham Potter was cast as the pantomime villain on his first return to Brighton.
This time, the role fell to former Seagulls Marc Cucurella and Moises Caicedo in a fixture that has an extra edge after a succession of staff and players were lured away to Stamford Bridge.
Left-back Cucurella attracted some ire from the stands by committing three early fouls without being booked and then winning a 16th-minute penalty.
The referee Michael Salisbury immediately pointed to the spot after the Spanish left-back went down in the 18-yard box.
But, to the delight of Albion fans, the ref changed the decision on review as replays showed that Brighton forward Facundo Buonanotte won the ball.
After the break, Brighton had initially looked the more likely to score but were undone by a swift counter-attack.
On as a sub, Welbeck sparked a chink of hope with his late late strike – in the 97th minute – but it really was just too late.
