Brighton & Hove Albion were rescued by a moment of sheer brilliance, but the controversy surrounding Bournemouth’s first-half penalty ensured the Premier League clash at the Amex Stadium will be remembered for more than just a stunning late equaliser.

An acrobatic overhead kick in stoppage time from teenage substitute Charalampos Kostoulas earned Brighton a dramatic 1-1 draw, sparking wild celebrations and underlining why the club invested heavily in the highly rated Greek forward. Yet even after being saved by what captain Lewis Dunk described as a “special talent”, Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler could not hide his frustration over what he believes was a wrongly awarded penalty.

Kostoulas Produces a Moment to Remember

For 18-year-old Charalampos Kostoulas, it was the kind of goal young footballers dream about. Introduced from the bench with Brighton chasing the game, the Greek Under-21 international struck an extraordinary overhead kick deep into stoppage time to level the match.

Signed from Olympiakos for £29.78m in the summer — a deal that could rise to a record £31.5m for a Greek player — Kostoulas has been tipped for stardom. His late intervention ensured Brighton avoided defeat after trailing for much of the match.

Brighton boss Hurzeler praised the teenager’s ability but made clear the draw still felt bittersweet.

“It was a nice goal. We all know what he is capable of,” Hurzeler said.
“But, we all prefer to win.”

A Hotly Disputed Penalty Changes the Game

The flashpoint arrived around the half-hour mark when Bournemouth forward Amine Adli went down under a challenge from Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.

Referee Paul Tierney initially booked Adli for simulation, believing the forward had gone to ground too easily. However, after intervention from VAR official Jarred Gillett, Tierney reviewed the incident at the pitchside monitor and reversed his decision — awarding Bournemouth a penalty.

Marcus Tavernier converted the spot-kick to give the visitors the lead, a goal that looked set to secure all three points until Kostoulas’s late heroics.

Replays showed minimal contact, with Verbruggen’s raised leg brushing Adli’s thigh as the ball ran away from goal. The decision infuriated Brighton’s players, coaching staff and supporters, who felt the threshold for VAR intervention had not been met.

Hurzeler: ‘Contact Does Not Mean a Foul’

Hurzeler was forthright in his criticism of the decision, questioning the consistency of refereeing standards.

“No. It is difficult to speak to referees,” the German coach said when asked if it was a penalty.
“They have their own opinion, and it is very difficult to have a conversation with them. We have to accept it even though we don’t agree.

“A touch and a contact is not enough — and that is what referees told us before the season. In certain moments they don’t do it. That’s the truth.

“Contact doesn’t mean foul. In this situation it’s contact, maybe a little bit, but it’s not a foul. It doesn’t make sense.”

Bournemouth and Pundits Defend the Decision

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola took the opposite view, saying the VAR review simply corrected an obvious error.

“As soon as I saw the replay, Verbruggen raises his leg a lot and contacts Amine,” Iraola said.
“So I expected the decision, yes.”

Former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, speaking on Sky Sports, agreed.

“It is a penalty,” Henry said.
“You’re lifting your leg, you hit the player and the ball is still in play. Regardless of whether he gets the ball or not, it’s still in play. It could have been avoided.”

Ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher added that while similar challenges may not have been punished a decade ago, modern interpretations favour attackers.

“These types of penalties wouldn’t have been given 10 years ago,” Carragher said.
“The ball is still in play, there is contact, even if Adli wasn’t getting to the ball.”

VAR Under the Microscope Again

The decision added fuel to growing debate about VAR consistency in the Premier League.

BBC Sport data from the league’s Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel shows VAR errors have increased by 30 percent this season, rising from 10 to 13 at the same stage compared to last year. While still an improvement on previous campaigns, the growing scrutiny highlights ongoing dissatisfaction among players and fans alike.

‘Clear and Obvious?’ – Expert VAR Analysis

Football issues correspondent Dale Johnson explained why the VAR intervention was triggered.

The crucial factor was Tierney’s initial decision to book Adli for simulation — a call VAR deemed incorrect. That misjudgment opened the door for a review.

Verbruggen’s challenge, made with a high boot, was considered “irregular”, with contact occurring while the ball was still in play. Whether Adli would have kept the ball in was deemed irrelevant under current laws.

Still, Johnson acknowledged the decision sat in a grey area, with reasonable arguments on both sides.

Fans React: ‘Football Is Turning Into a Sport for Divers’

Supporters were far less divided.

Brighton fans in particular expressed anger, frustration and fatigue with VAR decisions.

“Barely touched him and he was already going down. Embarrassing from VAR,” wrote one supporter.
“Clear and obvious has lost all meaning,” said another.
“Football is turning into a sport for divers,” added a third.

The recurring theme was disbelief that marginal contact now routinely overturns on-field decisions.

Kostoulas the Silver Lining

Lost amid the controversy was another glimpse of Brighton’s recruitment brilliance.

Kostoulas, who scored seven goals in 22 league appearances for Olympiakos last season, is adapting quickly to English football. With 17 appearances and two goals already this campaign, his late intervention reinforced the belief that Brighton have uncovered another gem.

Captain Lewis Dunk summed it up best:

“He’s a special talent. I’ve seen him score better in training, but that was unbelievable.
“He’s adapting to a new country and a new league — and that shows exactly what he can do.”

Final Verdict: A Draw, But No Closure

Brighton were saved by individual brilliance, Bournemouth left frustrated by a late equaliser, and VAR once again dominated the post-match narrative.

While the laws may support the penalty decision, the lingering question remains: should such minimal contact justify overturning a referee’s original call?

For now, Brighton take a point — thanks to a teenager’s unforgettable moment — but the debate over VAR’s role in modern football shows no sign of fading.