Brighton and Hove Albion save point with late equaliser at Spurs
Tottenham Hotspur 2 Brighton and Hove Albion 2
A late equaliser by Brighton and Hove Albion substitute Georginio Rutter salvaged a point and left Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League relegation zone.
The stoppage time leveller stunned Spurs at the end of a pulsating match, taking the shine off Roberto De Zerbi’s home debut.
The former Albion boss looked set to end his new side’s 15-match winless run in the top flight after Xavi Simons produced a superb 77th-minute strike to spark wild celebrations.
The hosts had gone ahead after 39 minutes when Xavi laid on the opener for Pedro Porro. It was cancelled out by Kaoru Mitoma in first-half stoppage-time.
As the north London side’s fans geared up to celebrate, scenes of jubilation turned to disbelief when Kevin Danso lost possession in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time. Rutter curled home to ensure the spoils were shared.
The 2-2 draw left Tottenham stuck in the bottom three for another week, with only five matches left to stave off the club’s first relegation since 1977.
Spurs had spent a whole week in the relegation zone but there was an air of positivity in N17 with James Maddison surprisingly named in the match-day squad for the first time this season and Xavi back in the starting line up.
A sea of white flags welcomed the teams before De Zerbi’s exchanged pleasantries with his old players, followed by numerous warnings from fourth official Ben Toner for walking on to the pitch.
Clear-cut action was limited but Tottenham had penalty appeals waved away in the 10th minute after Destiny Udogie tangled with Yankuba Minteh.
Diego Gomez limped off for the visitors soon after before Xavi went close with a low effort deflected wide.
Brighton enjoyed a sustained spell of pressure afterwards and Spurs stand-in captain Micky van de Ven smashed a clearance against the post to deny Danny Welbeck after a dangerous Jack Hinshelwood knockdown before Antonin Kinsky saved Welbeck’s header.
After Tottenham survived, De Zerbi watched the first goal of his era come from Porro. Xavi was key, with a wonderful clipped cross and Porro stole in to head over Bart Verbruggen.
Two minutes later and it should have been 2-0 when Dominic Solanke passed into Xavi who cut inside Ferdi Kadioglu but curled the ball against the post from eight yards – and Porro’s follow-up was tipped over by Verbruggen.
It would prove costly as Mitoma lashed home on the volley in supreme fashion from an equally impressive Pascal Gross cross.
Hinshelwood headed wide before half-time and Brighton picked up where they left off after the break with Danso forced to clear ahead of Welbeck and then block an effort by Mitoma.
De Zerbi received a caution soon after for going down the touchline again before a raft of substitutes sparked a grand finale.
Joao Palhinha went close after his introduction before Lucas Bergvall marked his entrance with a key role in Xavi’s goal.
Bergvall won back possession from Jan Paul van Hecke and played in Xavi who made space against Mats Wieffer and curled sumptuously beyond Verbruggen.
Wild scenes in front of the South Stand were followed by a bout of cramp for Xavi before the late twist in the tale.
Danso waited too long on the ball inside the area and Van Hecke stole in and teed up Rutter to break Tottenham hearts and prevent the hosts moving out of the bottom three.
