The spoils were shared at the Broadfield Stadium as Chelsea were held to a 2-2 draw by Brighton & Hove Albion. The Blues opened the scoring through Santi Baltimore before goals from Marisa Olislagers and Vicky Losada put the hosts in front. Lauren James pulled one back for the league leaders at the hour mark to make it 2-2. Both teams had chances to score, but no further goals were added.
Chelsea had several issues ahead of the match regarding player fitness and injuries. Ultimately, those factors proved to be the main difference in the game. The Blues were without Erin Cuthbert, Niamh Charles, Maelys Mpomé, Guro Reiten and Maika Hamano due to injuries. Meanwhile, Nathalie Björn, Mayra Ramírez, and Catarina Macario were only fit enough to start from the bench. This meant January signing Naomi Girma, who was yet to debut due to a calf injury, was selected to start.
The home side started the match brightly, and it took a while before Chelsea even managed to push the ball towards the opposition’s end. Brighton’s players were tightly marking and pressing Chelsea, making it difficult for some players to get going. However, it was Sonia Bompastor’s side that took the lead after some clever play from Lauren James. Her cross was nudged towards Santi Baltimore by Sjoeke Nüsken, and the French international had no trouble finding the back of the net with a superb finish.
Despite going behind, Brighton kept playing their game and soon found the net through Marisa Olislagers. Millie Bright was slow to retreat at the beginning of the move. Although she tried to dive in front of the shot, Hannah Hampton’s poor goalkeeping allowed the Seagulls to equalize from a very tight angle. Later a poor defending from a throw-in saw Vicky Losada find enough space in the middle to put the hosts ahead.
Even in the second half, Chelsea struggled to construct a sequence of passes at times. There were frequent misplaced passes and an inability to control the ball. Naomi Girma had a tough debut in English football and was eventually taken off due to injury. Even the other changes did not have the desired impact. Nevertheless, just after the hour mark, a brilliant turn from Aggie Beever-Jones found second-half substitute Mayra Ramírez. Although it initially seemed like she had fumbled the chance, Lauren James was there to nod the ball home for the equalizer.
Chelsea kept up the pressure in search of a winner. But, a lack of discipline and concentration meant they never truly looked like regaining the lead. Brighton defended well and occasionally tried to find a winner themselves whenever they had possession. However, a fifth goal never came in the match.
This was the third time Chelsea had conceded more than once this season, and two of those instances have come against Brighton, who remain undefeated at home. The result meant Chelsea failed to win for only the second time this entire season.
Chelsea’s second draw of the league allowed second-placed Manchester United, who won 2-0 against Leicester City at home earlier, to cut the gap to just five points. Coincidentally, Leicester City will also be Chelsea’s next opponent in a home fixture, the only other team to take points off them this season.