25 FEBRUARY 2025
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 2 AFC BOURNEMOUTH 1
PREMIER LEAGUE
at the AMERICAN EXPRESS STADIUM, FALMER.
Looking to extend their winning run, the Albion welcomed AFC Bournemouth to the Amex for a Premier League fixture, "live" in front of the TNT Sports cameras, the match also being broadcast by BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
In their last outing the Albion cruised to a comfortable 4-0 victory at Southampton in the Premier on the 22 February and for the visit of AFC Bournemouth the Seagulls made two changes to their starting line-up from that game, with Pervis Estupinan and Diego Gomez coming in for Jack Hinshelwood and Yasin Ayari, the latter two dropping down to the substitutes bench.
It was a first start for the 21 year-old Paraguayan Gomez following his January 2025 transfer from MLS side Inter Miami.
Last time out the Cherries had lost 0-1 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier on the 22 February and for the visit to the Amex, Head Coach Andoni Iraola made two changes to his starting line-up from that game, with Tyler Adams and David Brooks replacing Illa Zabarnyi (suspended) and Marcus Tavernier.
In their meetings last season it was honours even, with the Albion winning 3-1 at the Amex on the 24 September 2023, In the return game at the Vitality Stadium on the 28 April 2024 it was 3-0 to Bournemouth.
Previously this season on the 23 November 2024, in the Premier at the Vitality it was 2-1 to the Albion,
First chance of the game fell to the visitors when Dango Quattara's threaded pass found the on-running Ryan Christie whose crisp shot induced Albion keeper Bart Verbruggen into making a smart diving save to his left. Thereafter efforts by Georginio Rutter and Kaoru Mitoma went close for the Seagulls. The Albion took the lead on 12 minutes after the lively Joao Pedro had got on the end of a brilliant through pass from Diego Gomez, the Brazilian was brought down by Cherries keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga for a clear-cut penalty. Pedro got up, dusted himself down and calmly slotted the penalty-kick home to put the Seagulls ahead 1-0.
Another superb Gomez pass set-up Mitoma but the Japanese international's deft shot struck the post and rebounded to safety. Play up to the break was even as both teams strived for control. Midfielder Diego Gomez had an impressive first-half in his first start for the Seagulls.
Half-time 1-0.
Play continued to be even from the start of the second-half but on 61 minutes the Cherries equalised with a howitzer of a strike from the in-form Justin Kluivert after the Dutchman had cut in from his left and unleashed a stunning shot which gave Verbruggen in the Brighton goal no chance. 1-1. Quattara then saw his goal-bound shot saved by Verbruggen. Albion made a triple substitution on 72 minutes, with Jack Hinshelwood, Yasin Ayari and Danny Welbeck replacing Pervis Estupinan, Gomez and Pedro.
The move paid off within three minutes as Ayari and Rutter combined to set-up Welbeck whose cushioned shot ended up in the Cherries goal via the far post. 2-1. The visitors tried to get back into the game, Verbruggen making a smart save to keep out an Antoine Semenyo effort but the Albion managed to see out the closing minutes for their third Premier win on the trot.
Final-score 2-1.
Match stats:
Albion had 11 attempts at goal, with 4 on target and won 1 corner, free-kicks conceded - 12.
Bournemouth had 19 attempts at goal, with 5 on target and won 5 corners, free-kicks conceded - 14.
TO SUM UP - Albion's fourth consecutive win in all competitions. An impressive performance from Paraguayan midfielder Diego Gomez (21) in his first Premier League start. This weekend a change of competition, with a Fifth Round FA Cup tie at Newcastle.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Bart VERBRUGGEN; Tariq LAMPTEY, Jan Paul VAN HECKE, Adam WEBSTER (Capt), Pervis ESTUPINAN (Jack HINSHELWOOD 72); Carlos BALEBA (Mats WIEFFER 85), Diego GOMEZ (Yasin AYARI 72); Yankuba MINTEH, Georginio RUTTER (Solly MARCH 90), Kaoru MITOMA; Joao PEDRO (Danny WELBECK 72).
Subs not used: Carl RUSHWORTH (G/K), Matt O'RILEY, Brajan GRUDA, Simon ADINGRA.
AFC Bournemouth line-up (4-2-3-1):- Kepa ARRIZABALAGA; Lewis COOK (Capt), James ' HILL (Luis SINISTERRA 85), Dean HUIJSEN, Milos KERKEZ; Ryan CHRISTIE (Alex SCOTT 26), Tyler ADAMS; David BROOKS (Marcus TAVERNIER 46), Justin KLUIVERT, Antoine SEMENYO; Dango QUATTARA (EVANILSON 77).
Subs not used: Will DENNIS (G/K), Julio SOLER, Ben WINTERBURN, Mata AKINMBONI, Daniel JEBBISON..
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).
Fourth Official: Farai Hallam.
VAR Official: Matthew Donohue.
Yellow Cards: Albion: 2 - Jan Paul Van Hecke, Mats Wieffer. AFC Bournemouth: 1 - Antoine Semenyo.
Possession: Albion - 43%. AFC Bournemouth - 57%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Danny Welbeck (Albion).
Attendance: 31138.
NEXT GAME:
2 MARCH 2025 - NEWCASTLE UNITED - Away - FA Cup, Fifth Round - kick-off 13.45. "Live" on ITV1.