Jahanbakhsh stunner helps Brighton seal Chelsea draw

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 1, 2020 Brighton & Hove Albion's Alireza Jahanbakhsh scores their first goal REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Brighton & Hove Albion forward Alireza Jahanbakhsh scored with a brilliant bicycle kick in the second half to cancel out Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta's opener in an entertaining 1-1 draw in the Premier League on Wednesday.

The result at the Amex Stadium helped Brighton end a run of nine straight league defeats by Chelsea stretching back to 1983 while Frank Lampard's side missed the chance to seal back-to-back league wins for the first time since November.

Left back Azpilicueta celebrated his 100th start as Chelsea captain with the opening goal, guiding the ball home from close range in the 10th minute after Tammy Abraham's shot was blocked near the goal line by Brighton's Aaron Mooy following a corner.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 1, 2020 Brighton & Hove Albion's Alireza Jahanbakhsh scores their first goal REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Substitute Jahanbakhsh then produced an early contender for goal of the year in the 84th minute, with a superb overhead kick that flew into the bottom left corner giving Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga no chance.

"It is an amazing feeling. When I was about to go on, I had a feeling I could have an impact on the game," Jahanbakhsh, who scored his first Brighton goal in last week's 2-0 victory over Bournemouth, told the BBC.

"When I saw the ball, I just tried to hit it as hard as I could and the bicycle kick was the only option. I'm going to watch it a couple more times.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 1, 2020 Chelsea's Kepa Arrizabalaga makes a save REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

"I'm very glad to help the team win points. I couldn't start the year any better... we did a great job."

Spaniard Arrizabalaga had earlier kept out substitute Aaron Connolly's strike from close range and came to Chelsea's rescue again after the equaliser when he saved Neal Maupay's first-time shot from Martin Montoya's cross.

Chelsea also had opportunities to take all three points with their best chance falling to substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi, but his curled effort from distance narrowly missed the target in the 88th minute.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 1, 2020 Chelsea's Tammy Abraham shoots at goal Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

Lampard said he was frustrated by Chelsea's inability to kill off the game in the opening period.

"In the first half, the game was there to be won. We weren't ruthless enough. We got the goal and we had the possession. But we just didn't kill the game off," Lampard said.

"We allowed them to stay in the game. In the end it was a wonder goal but we were lucky not to lose. The tactics matched up for both teams but they were better than us. We have to take that on the chin."

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 1, 2020 Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi shoots at goal Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Radnedge)

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 1, 2020 Brighton & Hove Albion's Alireza Jahanbakhsh scores their first goal REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 1, 2020 Chelsea's Kurt Zouma and Kepa Arrizabalaga in action with Brighton & Hove Albion's Adam Webster REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 1, 2020 Chelsea's N'Golo Kante in action with Brighton & Hove Albion's Adam Webster Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 1, 2020 Chelsea's Christian Pulisic shoots at goal REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 1, 2020 Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta in action with Brighton & Hove Albion's Yves Bissouma REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 1, 2020 Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta in action with Brighton & Hove Albion's Martin Montoya Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 1, 2020 Chelsea's Kepa Arrizabalaga makes a save REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 1, 2020 Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta scores their first goal REUTERS/Dylan Martinez