Premier League
Brighton & Hove Albion 1 (Vuskovic 71’)
Leeds United 1 (Bogle 15’)
Brighton: Verbruggen (GK), Dunk (C), Groß, Kostoulas, Boscagli (Struijk 90’), Kadioglu (Costinha 78’), Gómez, Ayari, De Cuyper (David 77’), Yalcouyé, Vuskovic. Subs not used: Steele (GK), Hadjam, Andrés, Osman, O’Riley, Oriola.
Leeds: Trafford (GK), Bogle (Bijol 61’), Gudmundsson, Ampadu (C), Muharemović, Calvert-Lewin (Nmecha 73’), Stach, Okafor (Aaronson 62’), Tanaka (Wilson 73’), Justin, Elvedi. Subs not used: Zetterer (GK), James, Longstaff, Bahoya, Bard.
Venue: Amex Stadium | Attendance: TBC | Referee: Stuart Attwell | Booked: Groß, De Cuyper, David (Brighton) Bogle, Calvert-Lewin, Wilson (Leeds)
Leeds United continued their unbeaten start to the new Premier League season with an important point away at Brighton & Hove Albion.
A Jayden Bogle opener had put Daniel Farke’s side into the lead but despite dominating in large periods, United were unable to find a second before the hosts levelled in the second half.
Backed by a sold out away end who were in fine voice on the south coast, the Whites began the encounter with three changes to the team that drew with Brentford last time out, including a first start of the season for full-back Gabriel Gudmundsson.
Leeds had an early opportunity when a clever pass through by Noah Okafor released Dominic Calvert-Lewin who raced into the area but fired narrowly wide of the far post. The miss wasn’t to matter, however, as the assistant’s flag was raised on the far side for an alleged offside.
Moments later, Swiss international Okafor set off on a mazy run from half way, twisting and turning his way towards goal but good defending by Lewis Dunk allowed Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen to collect.
Then, after somewhat of a scramble in the middle, Nico Elvedi did brilliantly to hook a cross towards Calvert-Lewin at the back post.
The striker powered a header down towards the far corner which Verbruggen did brilliantly to parry though luckily for the visitors, there was Ao Tanaka to square the ball for the onrushing Jayden Bogle to tap home the opener!
Searching for a quickfire second, another delivery from the right caused the Seagulls problems. James Justin rose highest to meet the cross and glanced on which a blue shirt cleared.
With Farke’s side firmly on top, Leeds went desperately close to extending their advantage. Firstly, Calvert-Lewin profited on a loose ball and charged through on goal, round Verbruggen only for the retreating Dunk to hook off the line.
From the resulting set piece, the ball fell the way of Tanaka who drilled a fierce effort into the ground, bouncing up and cannoning off the crossbar.
In what was Brighton’s first real venture forward, midfielder Pascal Groß tried his luck from range, arrowing a rasping drive narrowly over the upright. Shortly afterwards, James Trafford was equal to a Diego Gómez volley before Stuart Attwell brought an entertaining opening period to a close.
HALF TIME: Brighton & Hove Albion 0-1 Leeds United
The Whites emerged from the break unchanged and would have grabbed a second in the early stages if not for a superb reaction save from Verbruggen. The ball fell for Stach from close range but the Germany international was denied by the outstretched boot of the keeper.
Having set up the first goal, Tanaka then thought he had scored one himself. Latching onto a Stach free kick, the midfielder volleyed home, only for the assistant’s flag to cut the celebrations short.
Down the other end, Albion had an opportunity as they worked play into the middle, falling the way of the onrushing Groß who fired beyond the far post.
First activity from the United dugout introduced Jaka Bijol and Brenden Aaronson into proceedings on the hour mark, replacing goalscorer Bogle and the hard-working Okafor respectively.
The Brighton goalkeeper once more was called upon to deny the Whites a second, diving to his left to parry Justin’s drive from a narrow angle after clever build up play involving Stach and Calvert-Lewin.
As the game grew further stretched, Charalampos Kostoulas drove deep into United territory but his tame strike was easy pickings for Trafford. Brighton did however level through Luka Vuskovic’s header 19 minutes from time.
Seeking to retake the lead, attacking changes arrived in the form of Lukas Nmecha and Harry Wilson. The former was immediately involved as he was teed up by Aaronson, seeing a shot charged down by a blue shirt.
As the game entered its closing stages, both teams had a flurry of chances in the search of a winner of their own. Notably, Groß lashed over from point blank range for the hosts with Nmecha fizzing a low shot inches wide of the far post down the other end.
Neither side were able to snatch the all important third before the full-time whistle sounded, ensuring the spoils were shared and United continued their unbeaten start to the new campaign.
FULL TIME: Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 Leeds United
