Chelsea survive Brighton uprising: an unprecedented number for the Blues

Chelsea edged a seven-goal thriller against Brighton on Sunday at Stamford Bridge, running out 4-3 winners in the second round of the Premier League.

The hosts came flying out of the blocks, and the early pressure paid off inside four minutes through Romeo Lavia.

Pedro Neto doubled the lead ten minutes later. Joao Pedro then made it three in the 32nd minute.

Malick Yalcouye pulled one back for Brighton in the 35th minute, and the first half closed with Chelsea 3-1 ahead.

Friendly fire handed Brighton their second, Joao Pedro turning into his own net in the 63rd minute.

Cole Palmer restored the two-goal cushion in the 74th minute with Chelsea's fourth.

Pascal Gross grabbed Brighton's third deep into stoppage time in the 90+6 minute, but it counted for nothing as Chelsea held on to win 4-3.

The result took Chelsea to 6 points, while Brighton stayed frozen on 3.

João Pedro enters Chelsea history

The Opta network's account on the X platform reported that João Pedro became the sixth player, and the first in Chelsea's history, to score a goal, provide an assist and put through his own net in the same Premier League match. He's the first to manage it since Son Heung-min did so in the Tottenham clash with Manchester City back in December 2023.

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso also joined a select group. He's only the fourth manager whose side has scored seven goals or more across his first two Premier League matches, following Bobby Robson, whose team hit eight in September 1999, Michael Laudrup, whose team also managed eight in August 2012, and Marcelo Bielsa, whose team netted seven in September 2020.