Brighton & Hove Albion sealed their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Newcastle United at St James' Park on March 3, 2025. The match, characterized by its intensity and controversial moments, saw both teams reduced to ten men before Brighton's Danny Welbeck scored the decisive goal deep in extra time.
The contest unfolded dramatically, beginning with Newcastle's Alexander Isak opening the scoring via the penalty spot just 22 minutes in. The penalty was awarded after Brighton's Yankubah Minteh committed a foul on Tino Livramento, and Isak confidently placed the ball beyond Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen, marking his 22nd goal of the season across all competitions.
Despite Newcastle's strong start, Brighton managed to level the score just before halftime. A well-placed pass from Joao Pedro found Minteh, who made amends for his earlier mistake by scoring the equalizer with a deflected shot. The goal came against the run of play, infusing Brighton with renewed energy as they headed to the locker room at 1-1.
The second half saw the match take on another level of intensity, culminating in two sending-offs. Newcastle's Anthony Gordon was dismissed for violent conduct after shoving Jan Paul van Hecke during a stoppage, reducing Newcastle to ten men. Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey followed suit late in the match after receiving his second yellow card for a foul on Jacob Murphy.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Newcastle pressed hard for the winner, with Fabian Schar appearing to score during stoppage time, only for the goal to be disallowed following a VAR review for offside. Brighton, buoyed by their resilience, began to find their rhythm as the match progressed toward extra time.
Once the extra time commenced, Brighton showcased their attacking prowess. Welbeck demonstrated his goal-scoring instinct with 114 minutes on the clock, running onto Solly March's precise pass. He executed a sublime finish from a tight angle, deftly lifting the ball over Dubravka to send the travelling Brighton fans ecstatic.
The win marked Brighton's first qualification for the FA Cup quarter-finals since 1983. The Seagulls have been on revival mode, having won five consecutive matches since suffering a 7-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest earlier this season. This quarter-final achievement provides another boost for the team, who show signs of rejuvenation under manager Fabian Hurzeler.
Despite the defeat, Newcastle faces looming challenges, particularly following Gordon's three-match suspension, which will leave them short-handed for the upcoming League Cup final against Premier League leaders Liverpool scheduled on March 16, 2025.
Brighton's victory also stings for Newcastle fans, as their club has not claimed any domestic trophies since their FA Cup win back in 1955. With this quarter-final clash, the Seagulls are delivering hope to their loyal supporters, signaling their ambitions within the domestic cup.
Brighton will now look toward the next round of the FA Cup, hoping to continue their impressive cup run and take another significant step toward lifting the coveted trophy, which has eluded the club for decades.