Chelsea edges Brighton in Premier League exhibition at Lincoln Financial Field

The Premier League’s summer series touched down for the first of three matches in Philadelphia on Saturday night , as Chelsea edged Brighton for a 4-3 victory at Lincoln Financial Field.

Two more Premier League friendlies are scheduled for Sunday, but this game may have been the weekend’s biggest draw, as Chelsea — Christian Pulisic’s former club — played before a crowd of 65,128 that cheered enthusiastically for it.

No doubt to the disappointment of fans sporting Chelsea-era Pulisic jerseys, the Hershey-born soccer star has been sold to AC Milan. Nevertheless, they erupted when Christopher Nkunku, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Conor Gallagher, and Nicolas Jackson notched goals for the Blues as Brighton played most of the second half down a man.

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Perhaps propelled by the crowd, the Blues held the momentum in the first 10 minutes of the game. Brighton struck first in the 12th minute, though, as Danny Welbeck found the net.

Chelsea responded just six minutes later with a goal from newly acquired Frenchman Nkunku, but Brighton regained control for most of the half.

With a slight edge in first-half possession (53%), Brighton found itself far more threatening in the final third, producing eight shots to Chelsea’s four. And of those opportunities, five for Brighton were on target. Chelsea managed just one shot on target in the first half: the one scored by Nkunku.

Despite Brighton’s opportunities, the teams entered the half even at one goal apiece. Chelsea’s keeper, Kepa Arrizabalaga, played no small role in that, making multiple big saves to keep it even.

Fate changed for Brighton in the 59th minute as a hard tackle from Jan Paul van Hecke sent him from the game with a straight red card, leaving Brighton to fend off Chelsea with 10 men.

Almost immediately, Chelsea’s seized control with three goals in quick succession. Ukraine’s Mudryk found his first in the 63rd minute, sending home a rocket. A few Ukrainian flags could be seen unfurling in the stands.

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Gallagher followed with a solid finish of his own in the 71st minute, before ackson made it 4-1 in the 75th minute.

Somehow, Brighton managed to claw back with two goals. The first came in the 78th minute as Joao Pedro sent home a penalty. Deniz Undav responded 10 minutes later from open play.