Chelsea Beat Brighton 2-0; Cesar Azpilicueta Assists Alvaro Morata for 6th Time

Cesar Azpilicueta to Alvaro Morata is the gift that keeps giving for Chelsea. 

Azpilicueta's brilliant cross to Morata in the 46th minute—and Morata's corresponding finish—opened the scoring for the Blues following a first half of resolute defense from Brighton & Hove Albion. It also served as the game-winner in Chelsea's 2-0 victory on Tuesday at Stamford Bridge.     

It was the sixth time Azpilicueta has assisted a Morata goal in the 2017-18 Premier League season, per OptaJoe, tying a Chelsea record. Cesc Fabregas to Diego Costa (2014-15) and Frank Lampard to Didier Drogba (2009-10) share the mark.

Marcos Alonso scored the game's other goal in the 60th minute.

Chelsea largely controlled the match, holding 67 percent of possession and outshooting Brighton 25-8 (8-1 on target), per WhoScored.com. 

After a solid first half, the Seagulls—perhaps hoping to force their opponent to overextend before hitting them on the counter-attack—looked as though they might be able to absorb the Blues' attacks and frustrate them for the duration of the match.

Instead, Azpilicueta worked his magic, curling a cross into the box from the right side to Morata, who slipped past his marker and found the back of the net for his 10th goal of the year in the Premier League. His execution was a sight to see, as Ed Malyon of the Independent noted: 

It's also become a regularity, as Ryan O'Hanlon of The Ringer suggested: 

Fourteen minutes later, Alonso doubled the lead with his fifth goal of the campaign, finishing a Fabregas corner to the near post with a glancing header that beat goalkeeper Mathew Ryan. It was the culmination of a spirited start to the second half for the Blues, per Jeff Borzello of ESPN:

The win—paired with a Manchester United draw with Burnley on Tuesday—pulled Chelsea within one point of the second-place Red Devils. Manchester City remain a nearly insurmountable 13 points ahead of Chelsea in first place, however.

The Blues will try to narrow that gap when they face Stoke City on Saturday at home. Brighton—still a comfortable 12th on the table with 21 points—next face Newcastle on Saturday at St James' Park.