Brighton & Hove Albion staged a remarkable second-half comeback to defeat Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 on Sunday, ending the visitors’ five-game winning streak in all competitions.
Tottenham raced to a 2-0 lead in the first half through goals from Brennan Johnson and James Maddison. However, Brighton rallied after the break with strikes from Yankuba Minteh, Georginio Rutter, and Danny Welbeck to secure the win.
“This victory shows the character of our team,” said Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler. “To come back against a top side like Tottenham demonstrates our growth and potential.”
The result leaves Brighton in sixth place in the Premier League, while Tottenham drops to ninth, two points behind the Seagulls.
Tottenham dominated the first half, with Johnson opening the scoring after a precise pass from Dominic Solanke. Maddison doubled the lead when his weak shot slipped through goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen’s hands.
Brighton’s resurgence began early in the second half when Minteh capitalized on a defensive error to pull one back. Rutter then equalized with a powerful finish, before Welbeck headed home the winner in the 66th minute.
“We lost our composure in the second half,” Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou admitted. “Brighton’s intensity caught us off guard, and we couldn’t regain control.”
Kaoru Mitoma was instrumental in Brighton’s comeback, consistently troubling Tottenham’s defense with his runs and crosses. The Japan international was named man of the match for his performance.
This defeat ends Tottenham’s recent good run and raises questions about their consistency as they chase European qualification. For Brighton, the victory reinforces their credentials as contenders for a top-six finish.