Brighton & Hove Albion 2:1 Chelsea - FA Cup Tactical Analysis

Chelsea’s Attacking Strategy and the Opening Goal

Although the first goal was an own goal, there were tactical aspects that Chelsea exploited to create the opportunity. Brighton’s high press, leaving them exposed in a three-versus-three scenario at the last defensive line, posed significant risks. The defensive line was stretched, and the man-to-man marking structure meant that any Chelsea forward who managed to beat his marker could create a dangerous opportunity. A well-timed slicing pass or a channel ball could easily access Chelsea’s forward line.

This scenario unfolded when Tosin Adarabioyo received the ball and played a pass to Pedro Neto, who turned past Tariq Lamptey and found himself in a three-versus-two situation. However, a slightly mistimed pass to Jadon Sancho killed the momentum of the attack. Sancho then teed up the late-arriving Palmer, whose snapshot was well saved by Bart Verbruggen. Moments later, however, Verbruggen conceded an unfortunate own goal, giving Chelsea the lead.

A notable observation from this period was that Chelsea failed to fully capitalize on their numerical superiority in the build-up phase. With Minteh juggling dual responsibilities, the visitors could have tested Brighton’s press by identifying the free man before transitioning directly into the attacking third. Instead, they frequently rushed the progression, moving the ball forward too quickly rather than exploiting Brighton’s structural weaknesses.