Brighton & Hove Albion secured a narrow 2-1 victory over AFC Bournemouth at Amex Stadium on February 25, 2025, marking the Seagulls' third consecutive win.
The match saw Brighton start off strong, with Joao Pedro converting a penalty after being fouled by Bournemouth goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga just 12 minutes in. The Brazilian striker sent Kepa the wrong way, igniting the home crowd's hopes early on.
Bournemouth, under the management of Andoni Iraola, faced an uphill battle but proved they were no pushovers. Their resilience paid off when Justin Kluivert unleashed a stunning 20-yard strike to equalize the score against the run of play. This spectacular goal, scored in the 61st minute, sent the travelling Bournemouth supporters wild, showcasing Kluivert's exceptional talent.
The game was filled with end-to-end action as both sides created opportunities. Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma had already come close to doubling their lead with a volley off the post earlier on. Brighton's head coach, Fabian Hurzeler, was visibly anxious as Bournemouth began to control the game more, especially after Kluivert’s equalizer.
Yet, it was super-sub Danny Welbeck who would prove decisive. The former England international, returning from injury, made his presence felt when he received the ball from Georginio Rutter and clinically finished off the far post, restoring Brighton’s lead with just 15 minutes to spare.
Despite intense pressure from Bournemouth late on, where they nearly found another equalizer through several chances, including attempts from Antoine Semenyo and Alex Scott being thwarted by the impressive Bart Verbruggen, Brighton managed to hold on for the win.
Following the match, Hurzeler reflected on the game, admitting, “We started quite well. We created some chances, we were very aggressive and intense. We deserved to lead. But we suffered. The goal came out of nowhere, and after, we had to stick together.”
His sentiment captured the thrilling yet nerve-wracking nature of the encounter, reiterative of how the team had to dig deep to secure all three points. The win propelled Brighton to share 43 points with Bournemouth, highlighting the competitive nature of the Premier League this season as both teams chase European football.
With this victory, Brighton finds itself tightening its grip on the race for Champions League qualification, evident from their current eighth position and the momentum they've built following their previous setbacks, including the heavy 7-0 loss to Nottingham Forest earlier this month.
The Seagulls are next set to face Newcastle United this Sunday in the FA Cup's fifth round, followed by another league match against Fulham, as they aim to continue their upward trend. Meanwhile, Bournemouth will look to bounce back from this defeat as they regroup for their forthcoming fixtures.