Brighton & Hove Albion kept their slim European hopes alive in spectacular fashion, scoring twice in the dying minutes to secure a 3-2 victory over West Ham United. While West Ham looked poised to claim all three points late on, the Seagulls showed remarkable resilience to claim a thrilling victory at the Amex Stadium. For Graham Potter’s struggling Hammers, the defeat extended their winless run in the Premier League to seven games, further compounding their dismal 2025 campaign.
First Half – Ayari’s Howl Sets the Tone
With the top seven likely out of reach, Brighton knew victory was crucial to keeping their UEFA Conference League qualification hopes alive. However, the home side was almost punished early on when Tomáš Souček wasted a golden opportunity, finding the side netting despite not being in the box. As is often the case, a missed opportunity was swiftly and spectacularly punished by Yasin Ayari, who curled a sensational shot from 28 yards, giving the home side the lead.
After a frenetic start, the game eventually settled down, although Brighton had to endure a few scares. A VAR check for Mohammed Kudus being brought down in the box was disallowed, and Bart Verbruggen then made a spectacular fingertip save to keep out Souček’s powerful header. Brighton thought they had doubled their lead shortly before halftime through Simon Adingra, but VAR intervened and ruled out Mats Wieffer’s goal for offside as the clock approached.
Second half – Momentum changes and chaos at the end of the match
Brighton would rue the disallowed goal almost immediately after the restart. Jarrod Bowen brilliantly breached the Seagulls’ defense with a blistering run and a back pass that eventually found Kudus, who coolly slotted into the corner to equalize.
Bowen’s creativity continued to trouble the home side, as Aaron Wan-Bissaka came close with a powerful shot that Verbruggen deflected away.
Brighton responded when Jack Hinshelwood’s deflected shot narrowly missed the post, but it was West Ham who thought they had sealed the victory late on. Bowen once again provided the assist, delivering a superb cross that Souček headed powerfully past Verbruggen at the far post. For all their faults this season, the Hammers looked set to secure their first away league win after more than a year away.
Brighton’s late and surprising response
Brighton weren’t done, however. In the dying moments, a clever through ball from Brajan Gruda found Kaoru Mitoma, unmarked six yards out, and the Japanese star headed home the equalizer. Feeling the blood flowing, Brighton went on a quest for the winning goal, which arrived sensationally in added time. Carlos Baleba aimed from 35 yards and unleashed a stunning curling shot that found the back of the net, sealing a stunning comeback.
What this means
This victory brings Brighton closer to eighth place and allows them to pursue their European dream with just a few matches remaining. West Ham, meanwhile, continues their grim decline, without a win in their last seven Premier League matches, and their defensive weaknesses are once again brutally exposed.
Key facts
- Brighton remain unbeaten at home against West Ham in their last five Premier League meetings.
- West Ham are now seven Premier League games without a win (D3 L4).
- Brighton scored two goals in added time to win a PL match for the first time since April 2019.
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