Brighton 3-2 Tottenham: Rutter inspires remarkable Seagulls comeback

Brighton managed a remarkable second-half comeback as Georginio Rutter scored one and played a key role for another in a thrilling 3-2 home victory over Tottenham.

Ange Postecoglou’s visitors had won their last five games, including their EFL Cup and Europa League exploits, and started well on Sunday as in-form Brennan Johnson scored for a sixth straight outing.

James Maddison doubled the away side’s lead before the interval, aided by Bart Verbruggen’s handling blunder, but Yankuba Minteh halved that deficit after the restart with a thumping finish.

Destiny Udogie was somewhat at fault for Minteh’s finish, and the Spurs defence again struggled as Rutter restored parity before the hour mark after dancing around a couple of defenders.

Former Leeds United star Rutter then edged past numerous Tottenham charges once more, with his cross deflecting up for Danny Welbeck to head in the 66th-minute winner and seal a memorable turnaround.

Verbruggen was still required to deny Udogie late on, however, as Fabian Hurzeler’s side held on for a victory that lifted them to sixth and ended Spurs’ impressive winning run.

Brighton 3-2 Tottenham

Few would have seen that result coming at half-time, but Brighton come from 2-0 down to win 3-2 against Spurs thanks to a phenomenal second-half comeback. pic.twitter.com/NHcqVz9UDp

— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) October 6, 2024

Data Debrief: Johnson’s heroics in vain

Johnson has now scored in each of his last six appearances in all competitions, becoming the first Spurs player to do so since departed talisman Harry Kane between December 2018 and January 2019.

The winger’s six goals across 10 appearances this season are also more than he managed in 34 outings for Spurs last campaign, though Johnson’s efforts proved ultimately in vain.

Sunday marked the 10th time that Tottenham have lost a Premier League game in which they led by two or more goals – they are the first club to hit double figures for this, and have done so three more times than any other club in the competition’s history.

Indeed, this memorable turnaround saw Brighton win a league game after trailing by two or more goals at half-time for the first time since a 3-2 victory against Charlton in the Championship in December 2015.