In a dramatic South Coast derby that had fans on the edge of their seats, Brighton & Hove Albion staged a remarkable comeback to snatch a 1-1 draw against arch-rivals Crystal Palace at the Amex Stadium.
Palace Strike First in Tense Encounter
The visitors shocked the home crowd when Jordan Ayew broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion just after the half-hour mark. The Ghanaian international unleashed a thunderous strike from distance that left Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele with no chance, sending the travelling Palace supporters into delirium.
Brighton struggled to find their rhythm in the first half, with Palace's disciplined defence frustrating Roberto De Zerbi's attacking lineup. The Seagulls' frustration grew as opportunities went begging, with Danny Welbeck and Simon Adingra coming close but failing to convert.
Dunk Delivers Dramatic Equaliser
The game turned on its head in the 83rd minute when Brighton captain Lewis Dunk rose highest to meet Pascal Gross's precision corner. The defender's powerful header flew past Palace keeper Dean Henderson, sending the Amex Stadium into raptures and setting up a frantic finale.
The closing minutes saw both teams pushing for a winner, with tempers flaring and challenges flying in. Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta thought he'd won it late on, only to see his effort correctly ruled out for offside after a VAR check.
Manager Reactions
Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi praised his team's character, stating: "We showed tremendous spirit to fight back. This team never knows when it's beaten, and Lewis Dunk epitomises that fighting quality."
Palace manager Roy Hodgson expressed disappointment at dropping two points: "We were minutes away from a massive three points. The players gave everything, but Brighton's quality from set pieces proved decisive."
The result leaves Brighton sitting comfortably in eighth position in the Premier League table, while Palace remain in thirteenth place as both teams continue their push for European qualification.
