Brighton & Hove Albion snatched a dramatic, late equaliser through Glenn Murray against Southampton on Monday evening.
The Seagulls were made to come from two goals behind after Pierre-Emile Højbjerg opened the scoring with an eye-catching strike. Danny Ings then doubled the advantage from the penalty spot to notch his third goal for the Saints since arriving from Liverpool. However, Chris Hughton’s men found an immediate foothold through Shane Duffy. With time running out, they were given the opportunity to equalise from the penalty spot in the 90th, and Murray did just that with a clinical spot-kick.
Quiet half but Hojbjerg thunderbolt livens up St Mary’s
Anthony Knockaert had the best of the opportunities in the opening stages as he was teed up by Solly March but his shot was deflected away from goal. Ings then spurned a great chance for the hosts before putting his shot wide from Nathan Redmond’s cross.
The Saints dominated the first-half from that point on with both Ings and Mohamed Elyounoussi coming close from a bit of penalty box pinball but neither of them were able to find the net. The latter then somehow put a header wide from ten yards after great play from Redmond.
Their opener did come however and it arrived in stunning fashion. After slack defending from Brighton, the ball fell to Hojbjerg approximately 35 yards out and he thundered a shot into the bottom corner to edge Southampton ahead going into the break.
Ings continues great form to double advantage but Duffy replies
Brighton started the second-half much better after an under-par opening period but Southampton’s second goal was all down to industrious play from Ings. The on-loan Liverpool striker bustled into the Brighton penalty area before he was tripped by Gaeten Bong. The referee pointed to the spot and it was Ings who indeed stepped up. His excellent start to life at St Mary’s continued as he stroked the ball into the bottom corner.
Chris Hughton’s men replied almost immediately. The Seagulls earned a free kick out on the left flank and Knockart was able to pick out Duffy who had managed to get ahead of Vestergaard. It was an easy task for the central defender as he nodded firmly beyond Alex McCarthy.
They also had an excellent opportunity to equalise as Knockaert jinked and turned in the area to set up substitute Alireza Jahanbakhsh. However, the Iranian’s clever flick went just wide.
Murray cool in the final minutes
Another substitute, Manolo Gabbiadini, had the chance to finish off Brighton in the closing stages as he collected Mat Ryan’s poor clearance but he could not quite divert his effort from distance towards goal.
McCarthy looked to be the hero in the closing stages as Jurgen Locadia turned excellently from the corner and hooked the ball towards goal only for the goalkeeper to paw the ball over the bar. His efforts were in vain though as Brighton were awarded a late opportunity from the penalty spot to equalise. Duffy was hauled down by James Ward-Prowse and the referee again awarded a spot kick. Murray was the one to take responsibility and he made no mistake as he hammered the ball down the middle to dramatically level the scores.
Amazingly, the hosts were denied a winning goal even later into the game. From a free-kick just outside the area, Redmond aimed for the top corner but again Ryan flew across his line to punch the ball away. As it happened though, the Saints were not quite able to get back ahead as the full time whistle blew.
Final Thoughts
Whilst the fightback from Brighton was dramatic, Southampton will feel aggrieved to have possibly dropped two points, especially after gaining a two-goal advantage. The Saints were much the better side throughout the majority of the clash and deservedly went 2-0 up. However, slack defending gave Brighton a route back into the clash which will infuriate Mark Hughes.
The Saints have a chance to rectify that against Liverpool on Saturday evening. Meanwhile, Brighton will go into their clash with Tottenham Hotspur in a buoyant mood after snatching an unlikely point.
Match Report
Southampton: McCarthy (7); Bertrand (6), Hoedt (6), Vestergaard (6), Soares (7); Redmond (7), Hojbjerg (7), Lemina (6), Elyounoussi (7) (Ward-Prowse (N/A), 76′); Long (7) (Gabbiadini (N/A), 76′), Ings (8) (Davis (N/A), 84′).
Brighton & Hove Albion: Ryan (7); Bong (5), Dunk (6), Duffy (7), Montoya (6); Stephens (6), March (6) (Jahanbakhsh (6), 71′), Bissouma (7) (Locadia (N/A), 76′), Propper (6), Knockaert (7); Murray (7).
Goals: Hojbjerg (35′), Ings PEN (65′), Duffy (67′), Murray PEN (90+1′)
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Yellow Cards: Soares (56′), Stephens (77′), McCarthy (86′), Knockaert (90+1′), Locadia (90+2′)
Red Cards: N/A
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