In spite of Dominic Solanke’s opportunistic goal, the Seagulls were equal at the break thanks to an own goal by Milos Kerkez.
With the help of a brilliant double substitution from Roberto De Zerbi, Brighton overcame a deficit to defeat Bournemouth 3-1.
In spite of Dominic Solanke’s opportunistic goal, the Seagulls were equal at the break thanks to an own goal by Milos Kerkez.
Ansu Fati and Kaoru Mitoma were introduced by boss De Zerbi at halftime after making nine changes to his starting lineup from Thursday’s Europe League loss to AEK Athens.
Just 15 seconds into the second half, the pair combined for an amazing goal, with Mitoma adding the final touch.
The victory was subsequently sealed by Japanese winger Mitoma with a late header, ending the Cherries’ winless start to the league season.
Bart Verbruggen took the place of Jason Steele in De Zerbi’s goalkeeper rotation, but after 25 minutes, that decision backfired.
The Dutchman attempted to play the ball out while pausing at the area’s boundary.
Solanke lobbed the stranded keeper into an open net from 20 yards out after Ryan Christie chased down the clearing.
Up until three minutes of stoppage time in an unusually lackluster first half, Brighton provided very little.
Following a goalmouth scramble, Billy Gilmour pulled the ball back into the area after Lewis Dunk and Adam Webster’s shots were cleared off the line.
Kerkez attempted to eliminate the threat by climbing at the near post, but instead he accidentally glanced the ball past Neto and into his own goal.
At the interval, De Zerbi made his two substitutions, but not even the cunning Italian could have predicted just the effect the pair would have.
From the kickoff, Bournemouth lost control of the ball, and Mitoma passed it to Barcelona loanee Fati on the left before making his way into the penalty area.
Mahmoud Dahoud assisted Fati in returning the ball, which Mitoma then sidefooted past Neto to complete an exquisite Albion play.
With Brighton now firmly in control, Dunk glanced a corner header just over before Fati missed a Simon Adingra cross.
When Bournemouth attempted to equalize, Antoine Semenyo’s low shot was successfully blocked by Verbruggen.
But Mitoma gave Brighton a bigger lead when, with 13 seconds left, he headed in Pervis Estupinan’s cross.
Late in the game, Solanke nearly scrambled one back for the Cherries from close range, but Albion captain Dunk cleared his attempt off the line.
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