Chelsea's FA Cup campaign concluded in disappointment as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium on February 8, 2025. The Blues took an early lead due to an own goal by Brighton's goalkeeper, Bart Verbruggen, in the fifth minute. However, Brighton equalized seven minutes later through Georginio Rutter's header.
The decisive moment came in the 57th minute when Kaoru Mitoma executed a perfectly timed chip over Chelsea's goalkeeper, securing Brighton's victory and progression to the fifth round.
Chelsea's performance was marred by individual errors and a lack of offensive cohesion. Goalkeeper Robert Sánchez had a shaky return, and defender Malo Gusto struggled against Mitoma's pace and skill.
Forward Christopher Nkunku delivered a subpar performance, failing to make a significant impact. Despite being jeered by his former club's fans, Marc Cucurella had a solid game. Substitute Enzo Fernández brought some control to the midfield, but it wasn't enough to change the outcome. The absence of a clinical striker was evident, as Chelsea couldn't capitalize on their early advantage.