31’
Pascal Gross starred for Brighton & Hove Albion as the Seagulls beat Brentford 2-1 to end their three-match home winless run in the Premier League.
How the match unfolded
Despite Brighton controlling the opening stages, it was Brentford who opened the scoring in the 27th minute from the spot.
Jan Paul van Hecke dragged Vitaly Janelt to the ground inside the box and Bryan Mbeumo converted the penalty with great composure, sending Jason Steele the wrong way.
However, it did not take Brighton long to respond as Gross equalised four minutes later with a brilliant finish from the edge of the box.
Kaoru Mitoma drew three Brentford players before feeding the ball to Gross, who had the time and space to take a touch before firing the ball into the bottom-right corner.
Mitoma’s assist means he now has more direct goal involvements than any other Japanese player in Premier League history, with 19.
Brentford suffered another blow when Mbeumo was forced off with an ankle injury in the 40th minute, but the Cameroonian's replacement Yoane Wissa nearly put the Bees ahead. His effort was cleared off the line by 18-year-old right-back Jack Hinshelwood.
Hinshelwood then put the Seagulls ahead in the 52nd minute with his first Premier League goal, rising highest to head the ball across Mark Flekken and into the far corner from Gross’s cross.
It was the 18th Premier League goal scored by a Brighton teenager in 2023, the most in a single year since 25 found the net for Liverpool in 1998.
Brighton pushed for a third goal, with Simon Adingra going close twice, but they settled for a 2-1 win.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side stay eighth but move on to 25 points. Brentford stay 11th on 19 points.
Brighton Report | Brentford Report
Match officials
Referee: Peter Bankes. Assistants: Eddie Smart, Nick Greenhalgh. Fourth official: Graham Scott. VAR: Andy Madley. Assistant VAR: Adrian Holmes.
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