Danny Welbeck caps dramatic Brighton comeback as Tottenham fall apart | Premier League

Ange Postecoglou gave a thousand-yard stare. The match seemed to be over at half-time, but Tottenham's team scored two goals and moved closer to a sixth consecutive win in all competitions. Now the manager stood motionless on the touchline with his hands buried deep in his coat pockets, struggling to comprehend what had happened. It was a stunning comeback for Brighton, who bounced off the canvas just after the opening minute and shot straight into the lead. They had no intention of letting it go and the home support were celebrating enthusiastically at full time.

The Spurs defense has been in an uncomfortable spotlight, with Destiny Udogi enduring a personal nightmare and being blamed to varying degrees for all three goals. But he wasn't alone. For example, Micky van de Ven would not like to be questioned for his role in the first two games, where Jankuba Minte and Georginio Rutter scored. Similarly, Rodrigo Bentancur was the winner, with Danny Welbeck heading home.

Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler deserves praise. He made a key change during the interval, bringing on Pervis Estupinyan for Ferdi Kadioglu, who had a tough time at left-back. And to all players in blue and white. They refused to accept that defeat was their fate. Kaoru Mitoma was the catalyst that enabled Brighton to surpass Spurs and rise to the astonishing height of 6th place in the table.

Earlier this year, when Hürzeler was manager at St. Pauli, Postecoglou invited Hürzeler to join Spurs and share some of his knowledge. There are certain similarities in the way both men view the game. “If someone knocks on your door and wants a drink, just let them in,” Postecoglou said Friday. “He's not going to take your furniture or steal your crockery.'' Here, Hürzeller looted extensively. Brighton's £150m summer rebuild includes the latest dividend.

Tottenham started the game well and were in almost complete control in the first half. There were just 16 seconds left when Dominic Solanke sent a clearance from the inside left to Timo Werner. If it was a typical result for the traveling Spurs support, the winger over-hit a low cross, leaving Brennan Johnson free in front of goal. Set the tone.

The visitors looked ready to blow Brighton away, pressing high and aggressively and forcing turnovers in dangerous areas. Werner's pace was too fast for Joel Veltman, while opposite Dejan Kulusevski was unable to be contained in his inside forward role, rampaging up and down. Spurs thought they had scored before they actually did, but after Werner's header caused chaos in Brighton's box, James Maddison sneaked the ball over the line, but Pedro Polo's cross Offside was confirmed by VAR.

Without blinking an eye, Spurs took the lead at that moment. Brighton wanted to play as usual, but Postecoglou's side would not allow that and Udogi and Maddison combined to take the rutter. From there, Solanke took the win for Johnson, who finished low for the first time. The biggest compliment to the in-form winger was that there was no doubt about the result. This was Johnson's sixth goal of the game.

Postecoglou's side created quite a few chances in the first 10 minutes alone, with Kulusevski and Maddison at the heart of everything, and when the former sent Johnson on in the 43rd minute following a fine lay-off from Solanke, the press box A Brighton fan next to him shouted. I've put things together. “It's too easy,” he cried. Johnson slammed his shot over the crossbar.

However, by that point it was already 2-0, and this goal was a disaster for Bad Verbruggen. Solanke led the break, Werner retreated and Maddison took a touch and fired a side-footed shot into the bottom corner. Verbruggen allowed the ball to wriggle under him.

Brighton, who lost defender Adam Webster to injury early on, had little to contribute in the first half, apart from a few Welbeck moments. He should have been able to hit Mitoma's cross better, but he hit the ball wide and his header went wide. The comeback in the second half was astonishing.

Hürzeler's decision to bring on Estupignan restored the team to the left flank. Mitoma came back to life, and his quick feet and direct running became blurred. By the hour mark, he had two assists and the game was tied. The Japanese national team was virtually unable to play.

Brighton were aided and abetted by Spurs' dismal defending. Van de Ven and Oudogie both missed kicks, then Minte spun to bury Mitoma's cross and the Spurs pair were all too easily beaten by the equalizer, with Rutter deflecting away from them and choosing the bottom corner. . Estupignan was outstanding in the build-up. Mitoma too.

Mitoma was denied by Guglielmo Vicario and there was an inevitable element of Brighton's 3-2 goal, but Udogi was at fault again. Rutter easily got past him, but as the ball ran along the byline, Bentancur moved aside to deal with the winger. Except he didn't. Rutter slipped onto the ball and his tackle turned into a perfect cross for Welbeck to rise and pass Vicario. There was no turning back for the Spurs.