Chelsea defender Reece James scored a stunning long-range effort and got an assist as they began their Premier League season with victory at Brighton.
James put Chelsea 2-1 up minutes after Brighton’s Leandro Trossard equalised Jorginho’s first-half penalty, won by new signing Timo Werner.
Kurt Zouma then volleyed James’ corner – his shot deflected in off Brighton defender Adam Webster to make it 3-1.
At 2-1, Lewis Dunk headed wide a great chance to bring Brighton level.
Brighton lost new signing Adam Lallana to injury right on half-time; he was making his debut, having signed on a free transfer from champions Liverpool in July.
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard, meanwhile, handed debuts to summer signings Werner and Kai Havertz.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Brighton
- 1Ryan
- 3WhiteSubstituted forGroßat 79′minutes
- 5Dunk
- 4Webster
- 2LampteyBooked at 81mins
- 14LallanaSubstituted forConnollyat 45′minutes
- 8Bissouma
- 17AlzateSubstituted forJahanbakhshat 79′minutes
- 20March
- 9Maupay
- 11Trossard
Substitutes
- 6Stephens
- 7Connolly
- 13Groß
- 16Jahanbakhsh
- 23Steele
- 33Burn
- 34Veltman
Chelsea
- 1Arrizabalaga
- 24James
- 4Christensen
- 15Zouma
- 3Alonso
- 7Kanté
- 5JorginhoSubstituted forAzpilicuetaat 85′minutes
- 29HavertzSubstituted forHudson-Odoiat 80′minutes
- 19Mount
- 12Loftus-CheekSubstituted forBarkleyat 61′minutes
- 11Werner
Substitutes
- 2Rüdiger
- 8Barkley
- 9Abraham
- 13Caballero
- 18Giroud
- 20Hudson-Odoi
- 28Azpilicueta
Live Text
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Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Chelsea 3.
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Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Chelsea 3.
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Attempt saved. Ross Barkley (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Timo Werner.
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Adam Webster (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Ross Barkley (Chelsea).
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Lewis Dunk (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Mason Mount (Chelsea).
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Adam Webster (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Ross Barkley (Chelsea).
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Substitution, Chelsea. César Azpilicueta replaces Jorginho because of an injury.
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Tariq Lamptey (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Tariq Lamptey (Brighton and Hove Albion).
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Ross Barkley (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Attempt saved. Aaron Connolly (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
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Substitution, Chelsea. Callum Hudson-Odoi replaces Kai Havertz.
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Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Pascal Groß replaces Ben White.
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Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Alireza Jahanbakhsh replaces Steven Alzate.
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Foul by Yves Bissouma (Brighton and Hove Albion).
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Ross Barkley (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Ben White.
