March 08, (THEWILL) – Alex Iwobi’s creative contribution proved insufficient for Fulham as Brighton and Hove Albion claimed their first-ever English Premier League victory over the London side with a 2-1 win.
Despite Iwobi setting up the opening goal with an inviting cross, Brighton fought back to triumph through a last-gasp penalty, moving them within a single point of the UEFA Champions League positions.
Fulham took the lead just after the half-hour mark when Raul Jimenez expertly controlled Iwobi’s pinpoint delivery before firing home from close range.
The visitors’ advantage lasted merely six minutes, however, as Jan Paul van Hecke responded with a carefully placed header from Yasin Ayari’s floated set-piece that found the net via the far post.
The home side maintained pressure throughout the second half, with both Kaoru Mitoma and Simon Adingra having goals disallowed for offside as Brighton pushed for a winner.
Their persistence was finally rewarded deep into stoppage time when Harrison Reed fouled Joao Pedro inside the penalty area, leading to a spot-kick that was confirmed following a VAR review.
The Brazilian forward stepped up to convert the 98th-minute penalty with confidence, sealing a victory that propels Brighton to sixth position in the table.
The triumph puts the Seagulls level on points with Chelsea and just one behind Manchester City, who currently occupy fourth place.
Fulham remain ninth in the standings following the defeat at the Amex Stadium, now sitting one point behind eighth-placed Bournemouth and four points adrift of Brighton.
The result further compounds the congestion in the top half of the Premier League table as both teams continue their pursuit of European qualification.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
