Brighton came from two goals behind to beat Tottenham 3-2 in a topsy-turvy game in the Premier League on Sunday.
Spurs appeared to be in total control at half-time after goals from Brennan Johnson – his sixth in six games – and James Maddison saw the visitors hold a 2-0 lead.
But Brighton then turned the game on its head and were in front by the 66th minute courtesy of strikes from Yankuba Minteh, Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck.
The result saw Brighton climb to sixth in the Premier League table – two points above Spurs in ninth.
AADAM PATEL was at the Amex Stadium for Mail Sport. Read on for his player ratings.
Georginio Rutter (left) and Danny Welbeck (right) both scored as Brighton beat Spurs 3-2
Spurs had led 2-0 thanks to goals from Brennan Johnson (left) and James Maddison (right)
Brighton (4-2-3-1)
Bart Verbruggen (4)
Just when you thought that Brighton finally had a settled number one, Verbruggen made an uncharacteristic error here. He knows he should have saved James Maddison’s strike.
Joel Veltman (6)
Returned from injury to replace Pervis Estupinan but gave Timo Werner far too much time in the first half. A much improved second half.
Adam Webster (5)
Deactivated Instagram after receiving abuse following his mistake at Stamford Bridge last week. Made a crucial block to deny Maddison early but was forced off with a hamstring injury in the ninth minute.
Lewis Dunk (6)
Made a brilliant early block to stop Dejan Kulusevski’s goalbound effort but was part of a defence that was opened up at will by Spurs in the first half. Solid after the break.
Ferdi Kadioglu (4)
So promising going forward and has a great delivery but defensively, Brennan Johnson had him on toast. Replaced at half-time by Estupinan.
Carlos Baleba (6)
Roberto De Zerbi said that Baleba would be just like Moises Caicedo and the 20-year-old is showing a maturity beyond his years. Was constantly involved and one of the better Brighton players on Sunday. Taken off for Mats Wieffer in the 74th minute.
Lewis Dunk pictured (left) performing a slide tackle against Spurs left back Destiny Udogie
Jack Hinshelwood (5)
Struggled in the first half and headed wide from a Kaoru Mitoma cross but was everywhere after the break
Yankuba Minteh (6)
Preferred to Mats Wieffer as Fabian Hurzeler switched from a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1 but the 20-year-old had a poor first half as he struggled to get on the ball. Though credit where it’s due for taking his chance to pull one back for Brighton with a tidy finish and causing Spurs plenty of problems. Replaced late on for Brajan Gruda.
Georginio Rutter (7)
Leeds fans will know all about Georginio Rutter trying to take on everyone in the middle of the park. Delightful when it works. Horrific when it doesn’t and it proved costly here as he lost the ball before Spurs took the lead. Worst player on the pitch in the first half but turned the game on its head in the second with a lovely finish to pull Brighton level before showing the determination to dig out a cross for Welbeck’s winner. Replaced by Julio Enciso in the 74th minute.
Kaoru Mitoma (8)
Such a delight to watch. Brighton’s most threatening player and created chance after chance. Teed up Danny Welbeck on a plate early on and provided the cross which led to Minteh’s goal, before getting the assist for Rutter’s equaliser. Player of the match.
Danny Welbeck (6)
Always offered a threat and should have got on the scoresheet in the first half but missed a sitter. Never stopped though and was in the right position at the right time to head in the winner.
Frenchman Rutter pictured celebrating after scoring Brighton’s equalising goal to make it 2-2
Welbeck (centre) headed Brighton in front on 66 minutes with his fourth goal this season
Subs
Igor Julio (5)
Came on for Webster in the ninth minute and put in a good shift. Booked for a foul on Kulusevski in the first half.
Pervis Estupinan (7)
Replaced Kadioglu at half-time and Brighton looked a lot more solid with the Ecuadorian on the pitch. Influential sub.
Mats Wieffer (6)
Came on for Baleba in the 74th minute and was solid.
Julio Enciso (6)
Replaced Rutter in the 74th minute and did what was asked of him.
Brajan Gruda (5)
On for Yankuba Minteh in the 87th minute.
Tottenham (4-3-3)
Guglielmo Vicario (6)
Part of an unchanged Tottenham eleven from the side that won at Old Trafford last weekend. Barely called upon in the first half and though he conceded three in the second half, it would be harsh to blame the Italian for any of Brighton’s goals.
Pedro Porro (5)
Always a threat attackingly but no excuses for Spurs’ second-half capitulation. Left flat-footed as Welbeck jumped in between him and Cristian Romero for the winner.
Cristian Romero (5)
A solid first half but will know from all his experience that you cannot get complacent at this level. As the skipper, he will know more than most that Tottenham blew it here.
Micky van de Ven (5)
Like Romero, looked at ease in the first half but, despite his pace, struggled to cope with Brighton’s movement after the break. Done by Rutter for Brighton’s equaliser.
Destiny Udogie (3)
A day to forget. Made the mistake that let Brighton back into the game and was easily pushed aside by Rutter for the second. It was Rutter again who showed far more fight than Udogie to reach the ball in the move for Brighton’s winner and Udogie’s afternoon was summed up when he was booked a minute later for pulling down Minteh without any intention to play the ball. Spurs didn’t have any left backs on the bench so Postecoglou didn’t even take him off.
Spurs centre back Cristian Romero pictured sliding in on Brighton substitute Julio Enciso
Tottenham’s inverted left back Destiny Udogie (right) pictured trying to tackle Rutter (left)
Dejan Kulusevski (7)
In such good form. Off the back of creating a record nine chances at Old Trafford last weekend, he threatened throughout the first half with some deadly movement down the right. Switched from right to left after Brighton’s comeback but it didn’t work and he picked up a yellow card for cynically getting in the way of Mitoma.
Rodrigo Bentancur (5)
Such an impressive first half with his side in control but he was all over the place after the break. Replaced by Yves Bissouma in the 79th minute as Spurs hunted an equaliser.
James Maddison (6)
Wasted a huge chance early on when he took too long to pull the trigger but was involved in the opening goal before getting on the scoresheet, though he was fortunate as Verburggen should have easily saved his shot. Taken off for Mikey Moore in the 85th minute.
Brennan Johnson (7)
Amazing what confidence can do for a player. Now has six goals in six for Spurs – becoming the first player to do that since Harry Kane in 2019. A lovely finish to give his side the lead and, in fairness, should have had another before the break which would have put the game to bed but he fired over when he only had the keeper to beat. Will be kicking himself for missing that.
Maddison pictured celebrating after scoring to put Tottenham 2-0 ahead in the 37th minute
Spurs forward Johnson has now scored six goals in six games but he was not happy at full-time
Dominic Solanke (7)
Like Kulusevski and Johnson, he will have no idea how Spurs blew this. Was a class apart in the first half with his movement and got the assist for the opener. Teed up Johnson too who should have made it three-nil before the break but hardly had a sniff in the second half.
Timo Werner (6)
Will know that Mikey Moore is knocking on the door. Had a decent game but his decision making let him down. Really poor delivery in the opening minute after a great run when he should have set Johnson up on a plate. Got the assist for Maddison’s goal.
Subs
Yves Bissouma (5)
Came on in the 79th minute for Bentancur.
Pape Sarr (5)
Replaced Timo Werner in the 79th minute
Mikey Moore (5)
On for James Maddison in the 85th minute.