Could there still be hope for Russell Martin? After witnessing his Southampton side struggle to keep up with high-flying Brighton for the first hour, the manager saw his team finally secure their first away point of the season, thanks to an outstanding performance from the young talent Tyler Dibling.
If VAR hadn't disallowed Cameron Archer's winning goal for a questionable offside, this would have been a night to remember for Martin, who had to give 29-year-old goalkeeper Joe Lumley his Premier League debut. While the draw propels Brighton to the lofty position of second place, Fabian Hürzeler will be disappointed not to have sealed the victory after Kaoru Mitoma put them ahead during a first half where they dominated almost entirely.
Brighton had no answer to Southampton's spirited comeback, ignited by Dibling—an England Under-21 international who spent a year at Chelsea before returning to the south coast—which saw Flynn Downes equalize. The game's pivotal moment left Martin furious, but despite enduring 13 minutes of stoppage time, Southampton's often-criticized defense held strong.
An exhibition celebrating Brighton's debut season in Europe opened last month at the city's art museum and will remain on display until the end of April. Judging by their swift start under Hürzeler—who once sold paintings for a living—they might be gearing up for a new adventure by then. The German coach had not downplayed the possibility of the club surpassing Roberto De Zerbi's achievement of reaching the last eight of the Europa League last season, acknowledging before the game that setting a target is crucial, even if Champions League qualification is a long shot.
Hürzeler had cautioned that his team would need to endure against a Southampton side that excels in possession, but it was fourth-choice goalkeeper Lumley—last seen in a league match 18 months ago—who faced a baptism of fire during a frenetic opening period. Yukinari Sugawara nearly gifted Mitoma an opening goal after a poor touch under pressure, but the Japanese player failed to capitalize as Lumley rushed out of his goal. Georginio Rutter then narrowly missed the target before hitting the post with a curling shot from outside the area.
Southampton, though vulnerable in defense, occasionally showed flashes of their attacking prowess, with Dibling forcing Matt O’Riley into a rash challenge that earned the midfielder a yellow card. However, any hopes of a steady recovery were dashed when Lamptey's cross evaded all three visiting center-backs, allowing Mitoma to head past Lumley.
Tempers flared shortly after when Kyle Walker-Peters fouled Rutter right in front of the dugouts, prompting Hürzeler to leap out of his seat demanding a booking, much to Martin's dismay. Words were exchanged, and the Brighton manager was eventually shown a yellow card, resulting in a touchline ban for their next game against Fulham on Thursday.
With the impressive Yasin Ayari orchestrating in midfield, it seemed inevitable that Brighton would extend their lead. Instead, it was Archer who had a golden chance to equalize from Sugawara's excellent low cross just before halftime but failed to hit the target from close range. Another mistake from Jack Stephens allowed João Pedro to test Lumley from the edge of the area.
After surviving a fluid Brighton move at the start of the second half, Southampton reverted to their old ways when Lumley lost possession while trying to play out from the back. Taylor Harwood-Bellis received a yellow card for a cynical foul on Mitoma, and Ayari forced Lumley into a save with a volley.
Southampton desperately needed inspiration, and it came from Dibling's dazzling footwork. After shrugging off a tough challenge from Ayari, the teenager found Armstrong in the box, but his shot was blocked. The ball eventually reached Downes, who coolly converted from 12 yards out, silencing the home crowd.
Martin thought things had improved further when another Dibling dribble set substitute Ryan Fraser free down the left, allowing Archer to tap in. However, VAR eventually ruled out the goal after a lengthy delay, as Adam Armstrong was deemed to be interfering with play from an offside position.
Dibling forced Bart Verbruggen into a save, but it was Brighton who were left frustrated as they missed several chances to win it late on.
Source link: https://www.theguardian.com
