Brighton & Hove Albion staged a dramatic late comeback to defeat West Ham United 3-2 at the Amex Stadium, ending their seven-match winless streak and bolstering their European qualification hopes.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Seagulls took a deserved lead in the 13th minute. Jack Hinshelwood drove forward and fed Yasin Ayari, who coolly slotted his first Premier League goal. Brighton controlled much of the first half but couldn’t add to their lead, with West Ham looking disjointed and lacking rhythm.
The second half saw a reinvigorated West Ham. Just four minutes after the restart, Mohammed Kudus pounced on a loose ball after Jarrod Bowen’s initial effort was parried, bringing the visitors level.
As Brighton began to tire, West Ham took advantage. In the 83rd minute, Bowen turned provider again, whipping in a cross that Tomas Soucek headed in smartly to put the Hammers 2-1 ahead.
Just when it seemed the Hammers would secure a crucial three points in their fight for survival, Brighton turned the game on its head. Kaoru Mitoma equalised in the 89th minute, latching onto a deflected pass to finish neatly. Then, deep into stoppage time, Carlos Baleba unleashed a stunning long-range strike, sealing a remarkable win.
The win propels Brighton to ninth on the table, while West Ham remain precariously close to the relegation zone in 17th place.
