Welbeck at the double as Brighton’s bold bench stuns 10-man Chelsea in stoppage time

Brighton turned Stamford Bridge into a stage for resilience and nerve, coming from behind to beat 10-man Chelsea 3-1 with a pair of stoppage-time strikes. Danny Welbeck, introduced from the bench, headed a 77th-minute equaliser and later added his second after Maxim De Cuyper had nodded the visitors into the lead in time added on.

It was a win rich with meaning: a third straight victory away to Chelsea and a move into the top half of the table, up to 10th. For a club that has sold heavily to their hosts in recent years, the manner of the comeback—driven by substitutes and the outstanding Yankuba Minteh—made it all the sweeter.

Finding courage after the early blow

Chelsea’s start was strong and rewarded when Moisés Caicedo released Reece James, whose cross flicked off Kaoru Mitoma and was headed in by Enzo Fernández. Fabian Hürzeler admitted the hosts were on top early, but said that after conceding his side ‘played with more courage’ and began to wrestle back control.

The game’s hinge came soon after half-time. As James went off for treatment, Andrey Santos nudged a loose touch into trouble, Diego Gomez streaked through and was hauled down by Trevoh Chalobah just outside the box. Referee Simon Hooper initially called it a coming together, but VAR sent him to the monitor and a red card followed for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Hürzeler’s changes shift the tide

With Chelsea reduced to 10 and defending deeper, Hürzeler acted decisively. Welbeck arrived up front, De Cuyper added width and fresh legs, and Minteh—already troubling Marc Cucurella—was switched to attack the opposite flank where Malo Gusto had been sent on to reinforce. The effect was immediate: Brighton occupied higher territory and recycled attacks, forcing the hosts to live without counterpunches.

The equaliser on 77 minutes showcased Minteh’s menace. The winger glided past his man and delivered a wicked cross to the far post where Welbeck thundered home a header. It was no more than Brighton’s momentum deserved and confirmed the impact of Hürzeler’s substitutions on the contest.

Stoppage-time statement: De Cuyper and Welbeck settle it

There was controversy first: Gusto’s high boot caught Minteh as he stooped to head inside the area but both Hooper and VAR waved away the penalty appeals, a decision that angered Brighton and led to a brief confrontation. The Seagulls did not lose focus. In the second minute of the 11 added, a deep delivery was headed back across goal by Mats Wieffer and De Cuyper arrived to nod in his first Brighton goal.

Short of attacking outlets after earlier defensive changes, Chelsea could not reply. Instead, Brighton sharpened the edge. Nine minutes into stoppage time, Welbeck danced through the retreating back line and lifted a composed finish over Robert Sánchez to complete a famous comeback and ignite wild celebrations in the away end.

Bigger picture: recruitment, resolve and the top half

This win was about more than three points. Brighton have now chalked up three successive away victories at Stamford Bridge and rose into the top half. Hürzeler praised the response—‘after the goal we played with more courage’—and cautioned that in a league of tight margins, hard work and unity are the foundations for turning performances into runs.

It also underscored the club’s model. Despite selling more than £260m of players and staff to Chelsea in recent years, Brighton’s recruitment keeps producing difference-makers. Minteh tormented his flank, De Cuyper made his moment count, and Welbeck’s experience carried the finish. On a day shaped by discipline and detail, the Seagulls had both when it mattered most.