Chelsea survived a seven-goal thriller to beat Brighton 4-3 in a breathless Premier League encounter that swung repeatedly before the visitors held on. Early goals from Romeo Lavia and Pedro Neto set the tone for an open, end-to-end contest.
Cole Palmer extended the advantage to make it 4-2, appearing to put the result beyond doubt, before Pascal Gross struck late to pull Brighton within a goal at 4-3. The finish left Chelsea clinging to their lead as Brighton pressed for an equaliser that never came.
The match exposed defensive frailties that manager Enzo Maresca will be keen to address, as his side conceded three times despite controlling long stretches of play. The attacking output offered encouragement, but the vulnerability at the back remains a work in progress.
For Brighton, the narrow defeat will sting given how close they came to snatching a point, having repeatedly found ways back into the game. Their attacking verve troubled Chelsea throughout and hinted at a competitive season ahead.
For Asia-Pacific football followers, the Premier League’s early drama reaffirms its status as the region’s most watched foreign league. High-scoring encounters like this one continue to draw large late-night audiences across time zones from Sydney to Singapore.
