Brighton secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, propelled by a goal and an outstanding assist from João Pedro, who played a pivotal role in the Seagulls’ climb to fifth in the Premier League. Despite going down to ten men in the second half, Brighton showcased resilience to seal the win.
The visitors, level on points with the top four but behind on goal difference, faced late pressure after Carlos Baleba’s dismissal in the 65th minute. David Brooks pulled one back for Bournemouth, and Antoine Semenyo hit the crossbar with the game’s final kick, but Brighton held firm to secure all three points.
João Pedro Stars on His Return to the Starting XI
Making his first start since August, Pedro wasted no time making an impact. The Brazilian opened the scoring in the fourth minute, capitalizing on Georginio Rutter’s saved shot to tap home from close range. This follows Pedro’s heroics in Brighton’s win over Manchester City before the international break.
Brighton doubled their lead just after halftime when Pedro delivered a sublime defense-splitting pass to Kaoru Mitoma, who coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
Bournemouth’s Fightback Falls Short
Bournemouth, despite their attacking efforts, were wasteful in front of goal. Semenyo, Evanilson, and Justin Kluivert missed key chances in the first half, and a VAR decision ruled out an equalizer when Kluivert’s pass to Evanilson was deemed offside.
The Cherries were handed a lifeline when Baleba received a second yellow card for a challenge on Milos Kerkez, allowing Brooks to strike in stoppage time. However, Semenyo’s volley in the dying seconds rattled the crossbar, leaving Bournemouth to rue missed opportunities.
Manager Reactions
Brighton Manager Fabian Hurzeler praised his team’s grit:
“This wasn’t our best football, but it showed our togetherness. We suffered, defended, and worked as a team. João Pedro made the difference again, not just with his goal and assist but with his overall contribution.”
On Baleba’s red card, Hurzeler added:
“It was never a second yellow. I hope the referee reviews it because it’s a harsh decision.”
Bournemouth Head Coach Andoni Iraola lamented missed chances:
“We were better in the first half and created more opportunities, but Brighton were more clinical. Small margins decided the game – the offside call, hitting the crossbar. It’s frustrating because we played well.”
Match Statistics
- Brighton Goalscorers: João Pedro (4’), Kaoru Mitoma (49’)
- Bournemouth Goalscorer: David Brooks (90+3’)
Player Ratings
Player of the Match: João Pedro (8) – Instrumental with a goal and an assist, Pedro’s creativity and composure were vital to Brighton’s win.
Brighton’s next test will be to maintain their momentum and continue their push for a top-four spot as they prepare for another challenging fixture.
