Brighton 3-2 Tottenham: Rutter inspires remarkable Seagulls comeback

By Sports Desk October 06, 2024

Brighton managed a remarkable second-half comeback as Georginio Rutter scored one and played a key role for another in a thrilling 3-2 home victory over Tottenham.

Ange Postecoglou's visitors had won their last five games, including their EFL Cup and Europa League exploits, and started well on Sunday as in-form Brennan Johnson scored for a sixth straight outing.

James Maddison doubled the away side's lead before the interval, aided by Bart Verbruggen's handling blunder, but Yankuba Minteh halved that deficit after the restart with a thumping finish.

Destiny Udogie was somewhat at fault for Minteh's finish, and the Spurs defence again struggled as Rutter restored parity before the hour mark after dancing around a couple of defenders.

Former Leeds United star Rutter then edged past numerous Tottenham charges once more, with his cross deflecting up for Danny Welbeck to head in the 66th-minute winner and seal a memorable turnaround.

Verbruggen was still required to deny Udogie late on, however, as Fabian Hurzeler's side held on for a victory that lifted them to sixth and ended Spurs' impressive winning run.

Data Debrief: Johnson's heroics in vain

Johnson has now scored in each of his last six appearances in all competitions, becoming the first Spurs player to do so since departed talisman Harry Kane between December 2018 and January 2019.

The winger's six goals across 10 appearances this season are also more than he managed in 34 outings for Spurs last campaign, though Johnson's efforts proved ultimately in vain.

Sunday marked the 10th time that Tottenham have lost a Premier League game in which they led by two or more goals – they are the first club to hit double figures for this, and have done so three more times than any other club in the competition's history.

Indeed, this memorable turnaround saw Brighton win a league game after trailing by two or more goals at half-time for the first time since a 3-2 victory against Charlton in the Championship in December 2015.

Related items

  • Musiala focused on 'taking steps forward' ahead of 2026 World Cup Musiala focused on 'taking steps forward' ahead of 2026 World Cup

    Jamal Musiala said he remains focused on improving as a player after starring for Bayern Munich and Germany this season, with one eye on the 2026 World Cup. 

    Musiala was on target in Bayern's 1-0 win over St. Pauli in the Bundesliga on Saturday, netting his fifth goal of the campaign in just eight league appearances.

    The 21-year-old has notched 13 goal contributions (nine goals, four assists) in all competitions for Vincent Kompany's side, with his impact on the side continuing to grow. 

    Only Michael Olise (seven) and Harry Kane (16) have more goal involvements than Musiala (six) for Bayern in the Bundesliga this term. 

    Musiala has also converted 89% of his big chances this season for Bayern in all competitions (8/9) - the best figure of all players from Europe's five major leagues with at least five big chances in 2024-25.

    He has impressed on the international stage too. The midfielder notched four goal involvements (one goal, three assists) in Germany's 5-0 win over Hungary in September, becoming the youngest player to do so in a single game in the competition. 

    After missing Germany's last Nations League fixtures through injury, Musiala is keen to continue his progression for his country. 

    "The focus is to get better and keep putting in the work and not look around too much. For me it is important to take steps forward," Musiala said. 

    "Last season I did that and maybe the goals and assists were missing a bit. I work on power, to be fit game after game.

    "I want to have as few injuries as possible to make as many matches as possible."

    "Over the years I have been looking less and less at all that," he said when asked about recent praise in the media. 

    "I also do not do it when things are not going well. It is important in good times and bad times to have the same routine."

    Germany take on Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday before travelling to Budapest three days later to square off against Hungary. 

    Julian Nagelsmann's side have already qualified for the quarter-finals of the Nations League, sitting five points clear at the top of Group A3 with two games remaining. 

    But Germany have struggled at major tournaments in recent years, falling in the quarter-finals at Euro 2024 to eventual champions Spain. 

    They have also failed to get out of the group stages in the last two editions of the World Cup, though Musiala was confident about his side's chances at the 2026 tournament, which takes place across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

    "The Euro was not perfect as we all had wanted, but we still see the possibilities that are there," Musiala said.

    "We have a year and a half until the World Cup, and we can take steps forward.

    "Learn the lessons from the past two tournaments and hopefully play a good World Cup," he added. 

  • Odegaard given time to recover as Arsenal star pulls out of Norway squad Odegaard given time to recover as Arsenal star pulls out of Norway squad

    Martin Odegaard has pulled out of Norway's Nations League games against Slovenia and Kazakhstan.

    Odegaard, who was injured while on international duty in September, only returned to action for Arsenal last week.

    After coming on from the bench against Inter in the Champions League, the playmaker featured for the entire game as Arsenal drew 1-1 with Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday, and teed up Gabriel Martinelli's opener at Stamford Bridge.

    Yet Odegaard will not play for his country in their matches over this international break.

    "This has been a complicated ankle injury. With very few training sessions with the team [Arsenal] over the past nine weeks, it's natural that the body is not 100% at this stage," Norway's national team doctor Ola Sand said in a statement on Tuesday.

    "After thorough examinations and conversations, we have agreed that Martin will not be ready to play in the matches against Slovenia and Kazakhstan.

    "In consultation with him, we've agreed that it's better for him to return to London to continue his rehabilitation there."

    Norway are top of their Nations League group, though they are level on points with Slovenia and Austria.

  • 'Please, doubt us' – Dias dares Man City's critics 'Please, doubt us' – Dias dares Man City's critics

    Ruben Dias has dared Manchester City's critics to "doubt us" after the Premier League champions' four-game losing streak.

    Pep Guardiola lost four straight matches in all competitions for the first time in his managerial career as City capitulated in a 2-1 loss to Brighton on Saturday.

    That loss came on the back of a 4-1 defeat to Sporting CP – coached by new Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim – in the Champions League, as well as a reverse to Bournemouth in the Premier League and an EFL Cup exit at the hands of Tottenham.

    City are five points behind league leaders Liverpool, but Dias shrugged off the doubters.

    "I would say, please doubt us, doubt us, feel welcome to do so," the centre-back told reporters.

    "When we did the treble, we even called it the dark January. We had a tough period. But it is what it is.

    "What matters is how you bounce back from these moments. That's why our team has won so much because in moments of difficulty, the characters come up and we stay together.

     

    "We don't find people to kill, we find people to bring into the cause and fight together.

    "That's what we need to do once again. Until it's done, it's not done."

    City's losing run combined with Liverpool's excellent form has seen a swing in the Opta supercomputer's predictions.

    The model now has Liverpool as the favourites, with a 60.3% chance of winning the title.

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.