Caltex Socceroos gloveman Mat Ryan was unable to prevent Brighton and Hove Albion falling to a 2-0 defeat in the Premier League on Wednesday (AEDT) against champions Chelsea.
Ryan made a number of crucial saves to keep the Seagulls in the contest for long periods before Chelsea’s class shone through after the break at Stamford Bridge.
In the end it was second-half goals from Spanish duo Alvaro Morata and Marcos Alonso which decided the contest.
But the Aussie shot-stopper did his best to keep Brighton in the match, denying Morata early on before making a great save to keep out an effort from Victor Moses on 26 minutes.
But the opening goal came barely a minute into the second half when Morata clinically headed past Ryan from Cesar Azpilicueta's pinpoint cross.
Ryan then made two fine saves in quick succession, first scrambling across his goal line to tip a blistering Alonso free-kick around the post.
He then denied the Spaniard again from the resulting corner before Alonso made it third time lucky with a sensational glancing header from Cesc Fabregas’ centre.
The defeat leaves Brighton in 12th spot after 20 games, with a trip to fellow promoted club Newcastle United to come on the weekend.