HomeFootballChelsea vs Brighton: Julio Enciso Scores Stunning Winner in 2-1 Victory

Chelsea vs Brighton: Julio Enciso Scores Stunning Winner in 2-1 Victory

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90’+4’Full TimeSecond Half ends, Chelsea 1, Brighton and Hove Albion 2.90’+3’Post updateOffside, Chelsea. Mason Mount tries a through ball, but Olivier Giroud is caught offside.90’+2’Post updateAttempt missed. Mason Mount (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Kai Havertz.90’+2’Post updateCorner, Chelsea. Conceded by Robert Sánchez.90’+1’Post updateAttempt blocked. Mason Mount (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Olivier Giroud.90’+1’Post updateCorner, Chelsea. Conceded by Adam Webster.90’Post updateAttempt blocked. Mason Mount (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Kai Havertz.

Teenager Julio Enciso produced a stunning moment of magic as Brighton came from behind to beat Chelsea in Frank Lampard’s first home match since returning as Blues manager. The 19-year-old Paraguayan forward fired an unstoppable 35-yard strike into the top corner to seal a vital win for the Seagulls in their push for European qualification.

Danny Welbeck had earlier equalised for Brighton after Conor Gallagher’s deflected effort had given Chelsea a fortunate lead. The victory lifted Brighton to within a point of sixth-placed Aston Villa, having played two games fewer, while Chelsea remain 11th in the table, 17 points off the top four and closer to the relegation zone than the Champions League spots.

Enciso is Brighton’s next big thing, having joined from Paraguayan club Libertad Asuncion for a reported £9.5m in the summer and slowly been bedded into the side. He had earlier hit the post from a tight angle, with Welbeck unable to prod home the rebound, while Evan Ferguson struck the crossbar in the eighth minute and Kaoru Mitoma forced a brilliant low save from Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga midway through the first half.

Worryingly for Brighton, Ferguson landed awkwardly on an ankle after his header was tipped over the bar by Kepa and was replaced by Welbeck in the 39th minute. Three minutes later Welbeck deservedly headed Pascal Gross’ deep cross in off the post.

Chelsea’s opener ended a run of four games without a goal, although it was a fortunate strike as Gallagher’s shot deflected wickedly off defender Lewis Dunk and wrong-footed Brighton keeper Robert Sanchez. The Blues made six changes from their Champions League first-leg quarter-final loss to Real Madrid on Wednesday and looked disjointed throughout, with Christian Pulisic’s header from close range striking the outside of the post at the end of the first half.

Sanchez did well to keep out Reece James’ cross and then Mykhailo Mudryk’s follow-up early in the second half with the scores level. Chelsea had never lost a home match to Brighton before this game and now face Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Tuesday.

Brighton’s next big star is undoubtedly Julio Enciso, who scored a stunning winner to help his side continue their European qualification push. The 19-year-old Paraguayan forward joined from Libertad Asuncion for a reported £9.5m in the summer and has slowly been bedded into the side. He had earlier hit the post from a tight angle just after the restart with Welbeck unable to prod home the rebound, while Evan Ferguson struck the crossbar in the eighth minute and Kaoru Mitoma forced a brilliant low save from Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga midway through the first half.

Worryingly for Brighton, Ferguson landed awkwardly on an ankle after his header was tipped over the bar by Kepa and was replaced by Welbeck in the 39th minute. Three minutes later Welbeck deservedly headed Pascal Gross’ deep cross in off the post to level the scores at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea’s opener ended a run of four games without a goal, although it was a fortunate strike as Gallagher’s shot deflected wickedly off defender Lewis Dunk and wrong-footed Brighton keeper Robert Sanchez. The Blues made six changes from their Champions League first-leg quarter-final loss to Real Madrid on Wednesday and looked disjointed throughout, with Christian Pulisic’s header from close range striking the outside of the post at the end of the first half.

Victory lifted Brighton to within a point of sixth-placed Aston Villa, having played two games fewer, while Chelsea remain 11th in the table, 17 points off the top four and closer to the relegation zone than the Champions League spots. They face United in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley on 23 April and Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Tuesday.

Enciso is quickly becoming Brighton’s next big thing, having made an instant impact since joining from Paraguayan club Libertad Asuncion for a reported £9.5m in the summer. He has slowly been bedded into the side, but his stunning 35-yard strike against Chelsea will live long in the memory of Seagulls fans as they look to secure European football next season. The 19-year-old had earlier hit the post from a tight angle just after the restart with Welbeck unable to prod home the rebound, while Evan Ferguson struck the crossbar in the eighth minute and Kaoru Mitoma forced a brilliant low save from Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga midway through the first half.

Worryingly for Brighton, Ferguson landed awkwardly on an ankle after his header was tipped over the bar by Kepa and was replaced by Welbeck in the 39th minute. Three minutes later Welbeck deservedly headed Pascal Gross’ deep cross in off the post to level the scores at Stamford Bridge and set up Enciso’s heroics late on.

The victory lifted Brighton to within a point of sixth-placed Aston Villa, having played two games fewer, while Chelsea remain 11th in the table, 17 points off the top four and closer to the relegation zone than the Champions League spots. They face United in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley on 23 April and Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Tuesday. Enciso’s stunning winner will no doubt live long in Seagulls fans’ memories as they look to secure European football next season thanks to their talented young starlet.

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