FA CUP WRAP: Mitoma Dumps Chelsea Out; Man City Survive Orient Scare
In a thrilling FA Cup fourth-round clash at the Amex Stadium, Kaoru Mitoma led Brighton & Hove Albion to a 2-1 comeback victory over Premier League rivals Chelsea on Saturday, propelling the south-coast club into the fifth round of the prestigious tournament.
The match got off to a rocky start for Brighton when goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen accidentally bundled a cross from Cole Palmer into his own net just five minutes in, giving Chelsea an early lead. However, the home side quickly recovered, with Georginio Rutter finding the equalizer only seven minutes later. The young forward connected with a glancing header from a corner, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
As the second half unfolded, Brighton displayed their dominance, creating several scoring opportunities and controlling the tempo of the game. The decisive moment came in the 57th minute when Mitoma, the Japanese winger known for his skill and creativity, flicked the ball over Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez with a deft finish, sending the Brighton fans into raptures.
In other FA Cup action, Manchester City narrowly avoided an upset against third-tier Leyton Orient, winning 2-1. City fell behind early when Jamie Donley’s long-range strike hit the bar and ricocheted off goalkeeper Stefan Ortega. However, the introduction of Kevin De Bruyne proved pivotal, as he scored the winning goal in the 79th minute after Abdukodir Khusanov had equalized earlier in the match.
Meanwhile, Southampton’s woes deepened as they suffered a disheartening 1-0 defeat to Burnley at St Mary’s. Marcus Edwards, making his debut after joining on loan from Sporting Lisbon, scored the game’s only goal in the 77th minute, sealing Southampton’s fate in a season that continues to spiral downward.
Bournemouth cruised to a 2-0 victory over Everton at Goodison Park, with Antoine Semenyo converting a penalty after being fouled by James Tarkowski. Dan Jebbison added a second before halftime, further compounding Everton’s struggles as they prepare to move to a new stadium next season.
Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz scored twice to secure a 2-1 win against Wigan, while Ipswich Town triumphed 4-1 over Coventry City, with Jack Clarke netting a brace. Millwall also advanced, thanks to Femi Azeez’s double in a 2-0 victory against Championship leaders Leeds.
