Tottenham battered despite late rally after Estupiñán provides Brighton fizz

The intriguing aspect was the apparent calmness of Roberto De Zerbi, the usually animated Brighton manager, as Pervis Estupiñán, a substitute, crafted a spectacular long-range goal to extend their lead to 3-0 just after the hour mark. Despite the dazzling display by Brighton, De Zerbi barely reacted, suggesting a level of comfort or perhaps an expectation of his team’s excellence.

Estupiñán’s sublime goal, a result of James Milner’s short corner, exemplified Brighton’s overall performance. The first-half goals from Jack Hinshelwood and João Pedro had set the tone for Brighton’s dominance. Another penalty, skillfully converted by Pedro after a foul by Giovani Lo Celso on Evan Ferguson, further highlighted Brighton’s superiority.

In a surprising turn, Brighton, having seemingly stopped playing, allowed Tottenham to mount a comeback. Spurs scored two quick goals, and the momentum signaled the potential for further damage. The tension rose among Brighton supporters as Pierre-Emile Højbjerg hit the post in the ninth additional minute, raising the possibility of an improbable comeback. De Zerbi, now animated, urged his team to hold on.

The comeback efforts were initiated by Spurs substitute Alejo Véliz, scoring his first goal for the club after Dejan Kulusevski capitalized on a mistake by Lewis Dunk, and Son Heung-min delivered a low cross. Despite Ben Davies making it 4-2 with a header, the extraordinary nature of Spurs’ late surge could not fully overshadow Brighton’s prior dominance.

Brighton’s assertive start and continued control, marked by shifting shapes and fluid play, justified their two-goal lead at halftime. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario’s impressive saves, coupled with Hinshelwood’s powerful shot, showcased Brighton’s attacking prowess. Despite missing several key players due to injuries, Brighton’s first-half fluency exposed Tottenham’s defensive vulnerabilities.

The second goal, confirmed after a VAR check, underscored Brighton’s command as Kulusevski’s foul resulted in a penalty, expertly converted by Pedro. The first half featured numerous chances for Brighton, with Milner hitting the post and Facundo Buonanotte having a goal disallowed for offside.

Despite Richarlison striking the post for Spurs in the 45th minute, their attacking efforts were limited in the first half. Brighton’s dynamic system, featuring Buonanotte’s versatile movements, contributed to their fluid interchanges and made it challenging for Tottenham to counter.

In the early part of the second half, Tottenham worked hard to stem the tide. Destiny Udogie and Richarlison had attempts on goal, but Brighton remained in control. The match concluded with Brighton’s unexpected defensive struggles, emphasizing the dramatic twists that unfolded, but it should not overshadow the impressive performance that preceded it.