Brighton & Hove Albion teenager Charalampos Kostoulas produced a spectacular 91st-minute overhead kick to deny Bournemouth a rare Premier League away victory, as the Seagulls salvaged a dramatic 1-1 draw at the Amex Stadium.
Brighton teenager Charalampos Kostoulas scored a late equaliser to rescue a point against Bournemouth. Photo credit: Getty Images.

Tavernier Gives Bournemouth the Lead

Bournemouth looked set to claim just their second Premier League away win of the season when Marcus Tavernier converted a first-half penalty. The spot-kick was awarded after a video assistant referee (VAR) review, overturning an initial yellow card for simulation against Amine Adli.

The penalty came after a lightning-fast Bournemouth counter-attack in the 32nd minute, with Tavernier confidently slotting the ball past Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. Record signing Evanilson nearly doubled the Cherries’ lead seven minutes later but saw his effort clip the post, keeping the match finely poised at 1-0.

Brighton Fight Back

Brighton dominated possession after the break but struggled to create clear-cut chances until substitutes Yankuba Minteh, Carlos Baleba, and Georginio Rutter were introduced in the 66th minute. Their energy and pace reignited the Seagulls’ attack, leading to Kostoulas’ sensational late strike.

The 18-year-old’s overhead kick was a combination of timing, skill, and audacity, keeping Brighton’s unbeaten run across all competitions at five games and maintaining their push for a European spot.

Tactical Analysis: Brighton

Before the game, head coach Fabian Hurzeler emphasized treating every remaining Premier League match as a “final” in their pursuit of Europe. Although Brighton had an inconsistent performance for much of the match, their determination to fight until the 91st minute highlighted their resilience and mentality, which Hurzeler will value highly.

The returns of Minteh and Baleba, key players missing from recent fixtures, will also boost Brighton’s chances in upcoming matches against Fulham, Everton, and Crystal Palace as they chase only the second European qualification in the club’s history.

Bournemouth Takeaways

Despite the late heartbreak, Bournemouth can take encouragement from their performance. This was their first match following the £65m departure of talisman Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City, and Adli impressed on only his fourth Premier League start.

The Cherries’ attack showed promise, particularly from Adli and Eli Junior Kroupi, highlighting that the south coast club still possesses quality in key attacking areas. However, the substitution of Tavernier and Kroupi in the 71st minute exposed Bournemouth’s lack of attacking depth, underlining the urgent need for reinforcements before the transfer window closes on 2 February.

Manager Andoni Iraola may use this performance to justify adding more talent to the squad, as Bournemouth continue to compete in the challenging Premier League relegation battle.

Player Ratings: Brighton Standouts

• Charalampos Kostoulas – 8.10 (Player of the Match)
• Yankuba Minteh – 7.48
• Jasper van Hecke – 7.31
• Carlos Baleba – 7.15
• Pascal Groß – 6.54

Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen earned a 6.53 rating for his efforts, while the likes of Georginio Rutter, Joel Veltman, and Lewis Dunk contributed solidly.

What’s Next?

Brighton travel to Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday, 24 January (15:00 GMT), hoping to build momentum in their European quest. Bournemouth host Liverpool at the Vitality Stadium later the same day (17:30 GMT) as they look to strengthen their Premier League survival campaign.