Brighton’s impressive performance led to their victory over Tottenham in the Premier League at the Amex Stadium.
Although Spurs initially dominated possession, the hosts seized control as teenager Jack Hinshelwood found the net, capitalizing on Joao Pedro’s movement across the 18-yard line. Pedro later doubled Brighton’s lead from the penalty spot after Dejan Kulusevski’s foul on Danny Welbeck.
Brighton continued their offensive, hitting the post through James Milner, with a disallowed goal for offside by Facundo Buonanotte and Richarlison also striking the woodwork for Spurs.
Despite Tottenham’s lack of shots on target in the first half, they showed improvement in the second, with Richarlison having two goals disallowed for offside.
However, Brighton secured three points less than a minute after the second disallowed goal, courtesy of Pervis Estupinan’s outstanding 25-yard dipping effort into the top corner.
Pedro secured a fourth goal by deceiving Guglielmo Vicario from the penalty spot once more, following a foul on Evan Ferguson in the area.
Despite Tottenham’s attempt at a comeback with goals from Alejo Veliz and Ben Davies, they couldn’t capitalize on several other late opportunities.
“We played fantastic football for 80 minutes and then we were unlucky in the first goal we conceded,” Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi told BBC Match of the Day.
“I think this season it was the best performance. Not just for Joao Pedro and Billy Gilmour, I am speaking in general for Brighton.”
The win sees Brighton climb above Newcastle into eighth, while Spurs stay fifth, a point behind fourth-placed Manchester City.
Fired-up Brighton deliver
A rare week without a match has been a luxury for Brighton in their inaugural European football season, and they capitalized on the break. Initially allowing Spurs possession, Brighton soon dominated, launching a series of attacks.
Despite recent concerns expressed by De Zerbi regarding Brighton’s reliance on youth, 18-year-old Hinshelwood performed exceptionally at right-back, demonstrating skill in scoring a goal.
This goal marked Brighton’s 19th by a teenager in the Premier League in 2023, surpassing Manchester United, who have the second-highest count with four. Brighton’s tally ranks third in Premier League history, surpassed only by Liverpool in 1998 (25) and 1994 (22).
Pedro consistently posed a challenge, seeking to exploit Spurs’ high defensive line, and clinically converted both of his penalty kicks.
Estupinan’s outstanding strike added the finishing touch to the victory, with the Ecuadorian left-back making his first appearance since September 30.
There will be disappointment they were unable to keep a clean sheet – they have now conceded in 23 straight league games – and that they had to weather a late storm, with De Zerbi throwing a water bottle in frustration during stoppage time.
All in all, this was a display that served as a reminder of what Brighton can do as we reach the halfway mark of the season.
“I am really lucky to be this coach of this team with these players. I am very pleased with the passion they have, they have everything,” added De Zerbi.
“You can’t forget we are Brighton. Sometimes they forget we are Brighton. We are not Manchester United, Manchester City, Newcastle or Arsenal, we are still Brighton.”
Reinforcements needed for threadbare Spurs
For a significant portion of the game, it appeared that this match was one too many for Spurs’ depleted squad. Manager Ange Postecoglou had to make two changes, as center-back Christian Romero was sidelined for over a month due to a hamstring injury, and midfielder Oliver Skipp was unavailable due to a knock.
Throughout most of the match, the Spurs’ defense struggled, and the midfield was clearly outmatched and outperformed by Brighton.
Postecoglou has been vocal about his intention to strengthen the defensive line in the January transfer window, and this performance only underscores the need for reinforcements.
Emerson Royal faced challenges in a central role, and Eric Dier, who was on the bench without being used, seems to be out of favor.
Despite Tottenham posing a threat in attack, Richarlison’s lack of discipline as the lead striker was evident, especially in the poorly judged run leading to his second disallowed goal.
Postecoglou will find solace in the late spirit displayed by his team, with Veliz scoring his inaugural goal for the club and Davies netting a powerful header at the back post.
They then laid siege to Brighton’s goal, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg hitting the post and Pedro Porro’s follow-up being blocked behind, but ultimately they left themselves too much to do.
“It is fair to say we looked like a tired team today,” Postecoglou told Match of the Day.
“We’ve asked a lot of these players for a very long time and we lacked a little bit of energy today. They are a good team and we struggled to cope with them.
“We hung in there and that’s all you can ask for, they left everything out there.”