First Chelsea Premier League goals from Enzo Fernandez and Levi Colwill earned the 10-man home side a 3-2 win over Brighton and Hove Albion at a rain-sodden Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
World Cup-winning Argentina international Fernandez headed home a neat overhead kick from defender Benoit Badiashile in the 17th minute before Colwill, on loan at Brighton last season, doubled the lead four minutes later from a Nicolas Jackson headed pass.
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Chelsea looked in charge but Brighton pulled one back two minutes from halftime through a curling shot by Facundo Buonanotte, before the home side had captain Conor Gallagher sent off on the stroke of halftime for a second yellow card after a sliding tackle on former Chelsea team mate Billy Gilmour.
Brighton pressed Chelsea in numbers at the start of the second half but substitute James Milner could not keep up with Mykhailo Mudryk on the counter and brought him down. After a six minute delay for a VAR check, Fernandez scored his second from the penalty spot in the 65th minute.
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Brighton’s João Pedro made sure of a nervy final few minutes of time added on when he scored with a glancing header in the 92nd minute.