Tottenham vs Brighton Report
Scorers: Solanke 17’ (P); Hinshelwood 51’, 64’, O’Riley 87’ (P), Gomez 90+3’
Tottenham Hotspur fell to their 22nd Premier League defeat of the campaign as Jack Hinshelwood led Brighton & Hove Albion to a thrilling 4-1 turnaround at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Early Lead for Spurs Through Solanke Penalty
The visitors aimed to capitalise on a possible Europa League hangover from Spurs, but struggled to threaten Guglielmo Vicario during the opening exchanges. Mathys Tel looked lively from the outset and played a key role in the opener. After a surging run into the area, he was brought down by a clumsy challenge from Mats Wieffer, earning a penalty for the hosts.
Dominic Solanke stepped up and coolly converted the spot kick, clipping it in off the underside of the bar to make it 1-0 to Spurs. Despite falling behind, Fabian Hürzeler’s Brighton side responded strongly and controlled much of the first-half possession. However, Vicario was only tested once, comfortably dealing with Hinshelwood’s close-range header.
Missed Opportunity as Spurs Fail to Double the Lead
Spurs had a golden chance to double their lead before the break. A quick counter-attack ended with Tel played through on goal, but he failed to finish with conviction. Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen reacted well, pushing the attempt away to keep the score at 1-0.
Hürzeler made a tactical shift during the break, introducing Kaoru Mitoma, who instantly influenced proceedings. His direct play earned Brighton a corner, and Spurs failed to clear their lines from the resulting set-piece. The ball eventually landed at Hinshelwood’s feet, and he showed quick reflexes to turn and smash the ball into the roof of the net, levelling the score.
Hinshelwood Scores Again as Brighton Take Control
Brighton maintained the pressure and found another breakthrough on 64 minutes. Spurs were once again undone by a corner, failing to deal with the danger or track Jack Hinshelwood, who was left unmarked in the six-yard box. The midfielder executed a clever backheel finish to complete his brace and give the visitors a 2-1 lead.
Tottenham found it difficult to create a response, lacking cutting edge in the final third. Brighton seized full control of the contest in the closing stages.
O’Riley and Gómez Seal Statement Win for Brighton
In the final minutes, Brighton were awarded a penalty, which Matt O’Riley calmly slotted home to make it 3-1. Moments later, Diego Gómez unleashed a stunning strike deep into stoppage time to put the result beyond doubt and round off a memorable performance for the Seagulls.
Brighton Secure Eighth, Spurs Set Unwanted Record
With the emphatic victory, Brighton confirm an eighth-place finish in the Premier League. However, despite their strong campaign, they narrowly miss out on European qualification.
As for Tottenham Hotspur, uncertainty surrounds the club’s direction. While Ange Postecoglou has delivered a historic trophy, ending a 17-year silverware drought, Spurs have also earned the unwanted record of most defeats (22) without relegation in the Premier League era.
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Spurs v Brighton, 2024/25 | Premier League