Brighton vs West Ham Report

Scorers: Ayari 13’, Mitoma 89’, Baleba 90+2’; Kudus 49’, Soucek 83’

Brighton & Hove Albion kept their slim European hopes alive in dramatic fashion, scoring twice in the final minutes to edge a 3-2 victory over West Ham United. Despite West Ham looking poised to take all three points late on, the Seagulls showed remarkable resilience to snatch a thrilling win at the Amex Stadium. For Graham Potter’s struggling Hammers, the defeat extended their winless Premier League run to seven matches, adding further misery to their dismal 2025 campaign.

First Half – Ayari’s Screamer Sets the Tone

With the top seven likely out of reach, Brighton knew that victory was crucial to keep their UEFA Conference League hopes alive. Yet they were nearly punished early when Tomáš Souček wasted a golden opportunity, finding only the side netting despite being left unmarked in the area. As often happens, a missed chance was swiftly punished – and in spectacular style – when Yasin Ayari unleashed a sensational 30-yard curling effort to fire the hosts into the lead.

After a frenetic opening, the game settled, though Brighton had to survive a couple of scares. A VAR check for a Mohammed Kudus fall inside the area was waved away, and Bart Verbruggen later produced a stunning fingertip save to deny Souček’s powerful header. Brighton thought they had doubled their lead shortly before half-time through Simon Adingra, but VAR intervened to rule the goal out for offside against Mats Wieffer in the build-up.

Second Half – Momentum Shifts and Late Mayhem

Brighton would come to rue that disallowed goal almost immediately after the restart. Jarrod Bowen brilliantly carved open the Seagulls’ defence with a jinking run and cut-back that eventually found Kudus, who calmly slotted into the corner to level the score.

Bowen’s creativity continued to trouble the home side, as Aaron Wan-Bissaka went close with a powerful strike that Verbruggen turned away.

Brighton responded as Jack Hinshelwood’s deflected shot narrowly missed the post, but it was West Ham who thought they had sealed the win late on. Bowen again turned provider, whipping in a superb cross that Souček emphatically headed past Verbruggen at the back post. For all their flaws this season, the Hammers looked set for a first away league win while conceding for over a year.

Brighton’s Stunning Late Response

However, Brighton weren’t done yet. In the dying moments, Brajan Gruda’s clever knockdown found Kaoru Mitoma unmarked six yards out, and the Japanese star made no mistake to head in the equaliser. Sensing blood, Brighton poured forward in search of a winner, and it arrived in sensational fashion during stoppage time. Carlos Baleba took aim from 35 yards and unleashed a stunning curling effort that nestled into the corner, sealing a breathless comeback win.

What It Means

The victory lifts Brighton closer to eighth place, keeping their European dream alive with just a handful of matches remaining. West Ham, meanwhile, continue their alarming slide, with no wins in their last seven PL games and their defensive frailties once again brutally exposed.

Key Facts

• Brighton remain unbeaten at home against West Ham in their last five PL meetings.
• West Ham have now gone seven Premier League matches without a win (D3, L4).
• Brighton scored two stoppage-time goals to win a PL match for the first time since April 2019.

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Brighton v West Ham, 2024/25 | Premier League