Kostoulas Overhead Kick Rescues Brighton In Premier League Thriller

Brighton & Hove Albion and AFC Bournemouth delivered a Premier League clash brimming with drama, tactical intrigue, and late heroics at the Amex Stadium on January 19, 2026. The match, which ended in a 1-1 draw, saw teenager Charalampos Kostoulas steal the spotlight with a breathtaking overhead kick in stoppage time, denying Bournemouth a rare away victory and sending the home crowd into raptures.

Heading into the contest, the stakes were clear. Brighton, fresh off a morale-boosting 2-1 FA Cup win over Manchester United at Old Trafford, had been struggling in league play—just one win in their previous eight Premier League outings. Despite their recent cup heroics, the Seagulls found themselves sitting 12th in the table, three points above Bournemouth and four points adrift of the European spots. Manager Fabian Hurzeler, overseeing arguably the deepest squad in Brighton history, faced the ongoing challenge of balancing talent with consistency, particularly in a congested central midfield.

Bournemouth, meanwhile, arrived at the Amex looking to solidify their position above the relegation fray. The Cherries had recently suffered an FA Cup exit at the hands of Newcastle United but could draw confidence from a solid league victory against Tottenham Hotspur. At kickoff, Bournemouth stood 15th in the table, twelve points clear of the drop zone, but keen to build momentum in the second half of the season.

The match began with Brighton on the front foot. Early opportunities fell to Ferdi Kadioglu, Brajan Gruda, and Jack Hinshelwood, all testing Bournemouth goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic. Yet, for all their early dominance in possession, the Seagulls couldn’t find a breakthrough. The game’s first major talking point arrived in the 32nd minute. Bournemouth’s Amine Adli burst into the box and, after an initial yellow card for simulation, VAR intervened. Referee Paul Tierney reviewed the incident pitchside, determining that Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen had indeed clipped Adli’s trailing leg. The decision was reversed, the yellow card rescinded, and a penalty awarded to the visitors.

Marcus Tavernier stepped up and coolly slotted the spot-kick low inside the left post, giving Bournemouth a 1-0 lead. The goal marked a crucial moment for Tavernier and the Cherries, who had struggled to find the net away from home all season. Bournemouth’s record signing, Evanilson, nearly doubled the advantage seven minutes before halftime, clipping the post as he chased a third goal in as many Premier League matches. As the first half closed, the visitors looked poised to claim just their second away league win since August.

Brighton, however, were not about to roll over. The second half saw them increase the tempo and control possession, as Hurzeler rang the changes in search of a spark. In the 66th minute, he introduced Yankuba Minteh, Carlos Baleba, and Georginio Rutter, injecting fresh legs and attacking intent. Baleba, recently returned from a strong showing for Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations, was described by Hurzeler as being "in a good shape and a good mood — he’s ready to play." The manager added, "There’s competition and I think there are only benefits regarding the intensity in the training sessions, benefits from learning from a really good and experienced player like Pascal, who has I think exactly these kind of things Carlos definitely has to improve: like being calm in possession, have a good positioning, sticking to our principles in possession."

The substitutions paid dividends as Brighton pressed relentlessly for an equalizer. Bournemouth, forced into their own changes—most notably with Bafode Diakitie replacing a cramping Adli in the 79th minute—dug in and looked to hold their lead. Brighton’s attacking waves kept Petrovic busy, with the Bournemouth keeper making key saves, including a sharp stop from Minteh’s rebound effort following a blocked free kick.

With time slipping away and the Cherries sensing a precious away win, Hurzeler made a decisive move, bringing on Charalampos Kostoulas for Danny Welbeck in the 78th minute. The Greek teenager, already touted as one of Brighton’s most exciting prospects, seized his moment in stunning fashion. In the first minute of stoppage time, Jan Paul van Hecke floated a ball into the box. With his back to goal, Kostoulas launched himself into the air and executed a flawless bicycle kick, sending the ball past a helpless Petrovic and into the net. The Amex erupted, and Brighton had salvaged a point.

The draw means both teams maintain their positions in the Premier League table—Brighton in 12th with 30 points, Bournemouth in 15th, three points and places behind. The result also underscores the resilience and depth of Hurzeler’s Brighton squad, which has faced injury setbacks to key players like Mats Wieffer, Adam Webster, Stefanos Tzimas, and Solly March but continues to find ways to compete. The midfield rotation remains a talking point, with eight central players vying for two spots in Hurzeler’s preferred 4-2-3-1 system. As the manager himself noted, "When he [Baleba] understands that he can really learn from these kinds of players, then I think this will definitely help Carlos regarding his own individual development and also for us as a team in general to have more competition."

Bournemouth, for their part, will rue missed chances—especially Evanilson’s close call in the first half—but can take heart from a disciplined away performance. The Cherries’ injury woes continue, with several key players sidelined, but their defensive resolve and ability to strike on the counter remain clear assets as they look to steer clear of relegation danger.

Looking ahead, both teams face challenging fixtures on January 24. Brighton travel to Fulham, while Bournemouth host Liverpool in what promises to be another stern test. For now, though, the story of the night belongs to Charalampos Kostoulas and his moment of magic—a reminder that in the Premier League, the drama is never over until the final whistle.