Danny Welbeck yielded the decisive winner late when Brighton pulled a crucial 2-1 victory over colleague European HopeFuls Bournemouth on Tuesday.
Veteran -attacker Welbeck scored within four minutes of his introduction and ended up calmly with his left foot to understand Brighton's third consecutive Premier League victory and to increase their European charge.
Kepa Arrizabalaga had previously fell awkward Joao Pedro, who opened the score with a 12th minute penalty at the Amex Stadium, to offer Fabian Hurzeler's in form a great start.
Justin Kluiser, however, became a stunning effort just after the hour and became the first Bournemouth player to score 10 Premier League goals in a single campaign.
Brighton staggered but then delivered their counter -attacking blow with another 15 minutes, Georginio Rutter Teeing Welbeck to shoot past Kepa through the inside of the post.
However, it could have been a different story, if not for Bart Verbruggen who produces a decisive stop up close against Dango Outtara with the scores level at 1-1.
Nevertheless, the heroic deeds of Verbruggen, in combination with the vital impact of Welbeck from the bank, saw Brighton to eighth, level at points with seventh placed Bournemouth while the European race held in the top flight.
Brighton wins 3 games in a row #bhabou pic.twitter.com/7NX7LP4GBT
– Premier League (@premierleague) 25 February 2025
Debrief data: Brighton toast Welbeck's record-equivalent success
Brighton will feel that this victory was a deserved reward for their first half, after he had collected 2.33 expected goals to Bournemouth's 1.48 over the entire game.
The side of Hurzeler, however, was due to Welbeck, because the veteran striker scored his 30th goal in the Premier League for Brighton, the joint-mast for the club in the history of the competition together with Pascal Gross.
Indeed, only in 2011-12 and 2013-14 (both nine) did Welbeck scored more goals in a top campaign than are seven this season.
The defeat will have been felt unjust for Kluisert, whose 10 goals from home can only be improved this period by Mohamed Salah (16) under Premier League players.
It also marked an unwanted first for Bournemouth because they lost back-to-back competition matches for the first time since November, and their three defeats in the last four are as many as they had suffered in their previous 18.
Comments