Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Chelsea beat Brighton 4-3 in Philadelphia thriller

Written by 
Published in Soccer
Saturday, 22 July 2023 19:18

PHILADELPHIA -- Mykhailo Mudryk scored his first Chelsea goal and Christopher Nkunku continued his promising preseason form as the Blues secured a 4-3 win over 10-man Brighton in Philadelphia on Saturday.

Brighton took a 13th-minute lead through Danny Welbeck before Chelsea equalised courtesy of Nkunku's second strike in as many matches on their United States tour.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

This entertaining game was in the balance until Jan Paul van Hecke was sent off on the hour mark for a reckless second bookable offence and Chelsea capitalised on their numerical advantage with three goals in 11 minutes as Mudryk, Conor Gallagher and Nicolas Jackson all found the net.

Brighton rallied as João Pedro converted a 79th-minute penalty before fellow substitute Deniz Undav scored a minute from normal time but Chelsea held on for their second consecutive victory under new manager Mauricio Pochettino in front of 65,128 fans at Lincoln Financial Field.

The Argentine made seven changes to the team that beat Wrexham 5-0 in North Carolina on Saturday with senior players Kepa Arrizabalaga, Thiago Silva, Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell coming into the lineup while Nkunku started for the first time following his £52 million move from RB Leipzig.

Brighton looked the more purposeful in possession early on and took the lead with a clever move on 13 minutes as former Blues midfielder Billy Gilmour crossed to the far post where Kaoru Mitoma headed the ball back into the path of Welbeck, who finished off the underside of the crossbar from eight yards out.

New signing Christopher Nkunku scored Chelsea's opening goal against Brighton in Philadelphia.

Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images


Chelsea needed just six minute to respond. Chilwell fed the ball into Carney Chukwuemeka, who exchanged a quick one-two with Ian Maatsen.

Chukwuemeka then tried to cross but his effort ricocheted off Gilmour, falling perfectly for Nkunku to steer home a simple finish from close range. That was Chelsea's only shot on target in the first half and Pochettino responded with four changes at the interval as Mudryk, Marc Cucurella, Cesare Casadei and Trevoh Chalobah replaced Silva, Chilwell, Chukwuemeka and Maatsen.

Brighton also made four substitutions with the lively Mahmoud Dahoud among those replaced but they continued to look the more threatening with Welbeck having a shot blocked by Gallagher inside the box shortly after the restart.

The game took a twist on the hour mark when van Hecke was sent off for a second bookable offence. Red cards are a rarity in preseason but referee Robert Jones had little option given the Dutchman scythed down Casadei on the touchline.

Mudryk helped Chelsea take full advantage. Driving infield from the left, he twice exchanged passes with Jackson -- introduced as a substitute moments earlier -- before firing home a low finish from the edge of the box.

Jackson registered another assist when poking a loose ball in the box through to Gallagher to convert a third on 72 minutes.

The Senegal striker, a £32m summer signing from Villarreal, then collected Cucurella's through ball to steer a shot high into the net for his first Chelsea goal.

Levi Colwill, who is a transfer target for Brighton after spending last season on loan with Roberto De Zerbi's side, then fouled substitute Pedro in the box and the Brazilian forward converted the resulting spot-kick.

Brighton continued to push forward and, with Chelsea's defence in a shambolic state, Pedro found Undav in the 89th minute and the German steered an effort past Arrizabalaga.

Nkunku's sharpness in front of goal, Andrey Santos looking bright in midfield, Mudryk's excellent strike and Jackson's intelligent link-up play were all positives Pochettino will take as Chelsea continue their Premier League Summer Series campaign against Newcastle United in Atlanta on Wednesday.

Read 82 times

Soccer

De Zerbi to leave Brighton at the end of the season

De Zerbi to leave Brighton at the end of the season

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBrighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi will leave the club after thei...

Mbappé not in PSG squad for last Ligue 1 match

Mbappé not in PSG squad for last Ligue 1 match

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsKylian Mbappé has been left out of the Paris Saint-Germain squad th...

Messi returns as Miami strikes late to beat D.C.

Messi returns as Miami strikes late to beat D.C.

Lionel Messi returned to the starting lineup as Inter Miami struck late to beat D.C. United 1-0 than...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Murray 'feels great', 'hungry' for big Game 7

Murray 'feels great', 'hungry' for big Game 7

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsDENVER -- Nuggets star guard Jamal Murray is "feeling great" and we...

Sources: Anunoby, Hart pushing to make Game 7

Sources: Anunoby, Hart pushing to make Game 7

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNew York Knicks forward OG Anunoby, out since Game 2 of the Eastern...

Baseball

Mets' Diaz open to change in role amid struggles

Mets' Diaz open to change in role amid struggles

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMIAMI -- Edwin Diaz is open to a change to help ignite the slumping...

Gil sets Yanks' rookie record; Soto mashes 2 HRs

Gil sets Yanks' rookie record; Soto mashes 2 HRs

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- The Yankees waxed the White Sox 6-1 on Saturday to earn...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated