Chelsea edge past Brighton in VAR controversy

Red card for James overshadows Palmer and Nkunku goals

Brighton, England (AP) — May 15, 2024

Chelsea secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Brighton on Wednesday in a match marred by a controversial VAR decision that saw Reece James sent off in the first half.

Cole Palmer gave Chelsea the lead in the 23rd minute, finishing off a flowing move involving N'Golo Kante and Hakim Ziyech. But Brighton equalised just before the break through Danny Welbeck, who capitalised on a defensive error from Thiago Silva.

The drama escalated in the 55th minute when James was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Leandro Trossard. The decision was overturned by VAR after replays showed the tackle was not as malicious as initially thought, but the damage was done and Chelsea were forced to play the rest of the game with 10 men.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Chelsea regained the lead in the 61st minute through Christopher Nkunku, who tapped in from close range after a cross from Ben Chilwell. Brighton pushed for an equaliser but were unable to break down Chelsea's resolute defence.

The victory moves Chelsea level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, although City have a game in hand. Brighton remain in ninth place.

Conclusion

Chelsea's victory was overshadowed by the VAR controversy surrounding James' red card. The decision was widely criticised on social media, with many pundits questioning the need for such a harsh punishment. However, Chelsea manager Graham Potter defended the decision, saying that James had "put his team in a difficult position" with his reckless challenge.

Despite the red card, Chelsea showed great resilience to grind out a victory against a tough Brighton side. The victory was a testament to the team's spirit and character, and it will give them a much-needed boost heading into the final weeks of the season.