25 MAY 2025
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 4
PREMIER LEAGUE
at the TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM, LONDON N17.
For their final game of the 2024-2025 season, their eighth in the Premier League, the Albion travelled to North London to meet newly-crowned UEFA Europa League winners Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the match being broadcast by BBC Radio Sussex Sport and covered by various Apps.
In their previous outing, the Albion beat Premier Champions Liverpool 3-2 in a thriller at the Amex on the 19 May and for the visit to Tottenham the Albion made two changes to their starting line-up from the Liverpool game, with Igor Julio and Jack Hinshelwood replacing Pervis Estupinan (injured) and Danny Welbeck (injured).
Last time out, Spurs had beaten Manchester United 1-0 at the San Mames Barrio Stadium in Bilbao on the 21 May to win the UEFA Europa League Final, the club's first piece of silverware in 17 years and for Albion's visit Spurs Head Coach Ange Postecoglou made three changes to his starting line-up from the Europa Final, with Kevin Danso, Archie Gray and Mathys Tel coming in for Cristian Romero, Yves Bissouma and Richarlison.
Last season's meetings in the Premier saw the Albion enjoy a 4-2 win over Spurs at the Amex on the 28 December 2023,). In the return game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the 10 February 2024 Spurs won 2-1.
Previously this season, in the reverse fixture at the Amex on the 6 October 2024 the Albion staged a great comeback, coming from 0-2 down to beat Spurs 3-2, with goals from Yankuba Minteh (48m), Georginio Rutter (58m) and Danny Welbeck (66m), after Brennan Johnson (23m) and James Maddison (37m) had put Spurs two-up.
After Spurs Europa League celebrations had temporarily ended, the football match got underway, with the Albion seeking a win to complete a double over Spurs this season and attain eighth position in the Premier, with the slim chance of European football next season. Spurs, on the other hand were looking to avoid a 22nd Premier defeat of the season.
The home side took the lead on 17 minutes after Mats Wieffer had tripped Mathys Tel in the box and Referee Robert Jones immediately pointed to the spot and up-stepped Dominic Solanke to slam home the resultant penalty-kick. 0-1. The rest of the half was confined to midfield exchanges with neither team creating anything of note.
Half-time 0-1.
Albion made a double substitution at the start of the second-half, with Kaoru Mitoma replacing Simon Adingra and Diego Gomez replacing Yasin Ayari. These changes sparked life into Albion's game and on 51 minutes they equalised when Brajan Gruda's corner was headed down by Adam Webster to the lurking Jack Hinshelwood who slotted the ball home from close range. 1-1.
Thirteen minutes later Albion took the lead when from another Gruda corner Wieffer headed the ball down and this time Hinshelwood backheeled the ball home for an excellent goal. 2-1. The Seagulls continued to go forward at every opportunity and on 88 minutes former Albion player Yves Bissouma brought down substitute Gomez as he burst into the box for a clear penalty and another substitute Matt O'Riley calmly converted the penalty-kick. 3-1.
In time added on a beautiful fourth Albion goal was created as Mitoma slipped the ball to Gomez and the Paraguayan curled home a delightful right-foot shot from 25 yards out. It was Gomez first goal for the Albion and it was a beauty. 4-1. A superb second-half by the Albion.
Final-score 4-1.
Match stats:
Albion had 23 attempts at goal, with 8 on target and won 11 corners, free-kicks conceded -8.
Spurs had 4 attempts at goal, with 2 on target and won 3 corners, free-kicks conceded - 13.
VERDICT - A stunning second-half display by the Albion, a double over the Spurs and a eighth place finish in the Premier this season but no European football next season after Chelsea won at Forest. A reasonable first season for Head Coach Fabian Hurzeler and hope for better things next season.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1:- Bart VERBRUGGEN; Mats WIEFFER, Jan Paul VAN HECKE, Adam WEBSTER (Capt), Igor JULIO (Joel VELTMAN 59); Carlos BALEBA, Yasin AYARI (Diego GOMEZ 46); Simon ADINGRA (Kaoru MITOMA 46), Jack HINSHELWOOD, Yankuba MINTEH (James MILNER 93); Brajan GRUDA (Matt O'RILEY 76).
Subs not used: Carl RUSHWORTH (G/K), Eiran CASHIN, Lewis DUNK, Harry HOWELL.
Spurs line-up (4-3-3):- Guglielmo VICARIO (Capt); Pedro PORRO, Kevin DANSO, Micky van de VEN (Ben DAVIES 66), Destiny UDOGIE; Archie GRAY, Rodrigo BENTANCUR (Yves BISSOUMA 66), Pape Matar SARR (Wilson ODOBERT 46); Brennan JOHNSON, Dominic SOLANKE (RICHARLISON 66), Mathys TEL (Djed SPENCE 83).
Subs not used: Antonin KINSKY (G/K), Damola AJAYI, Callum OLUSESI, Mikey MOORE.
Referee: Robert Jones (Wirral). Fourth Official: James Linington. VAR Official: MIchael Oliver.
Yellow Cards: Albion: 1 - Joel Veltman. Spurs: 3 - Pedro Porro, Ben Davies, Rodrigo Bentancur.
Possession: Albion - 68%. Spurs - 32%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Jack Hinshelwood (Albion).
Attendance: 61449.
BBC MATCH OF THE DAY - GOAL OF THE SEASON - 2024-2025 - WON BY KAORU MITOMA (ALBION) - GOAL v. CHELSEA (3-0) IN THE PREMIER AT THE AMEX ON THE 14 FEBRUARY 2025.
Jack Kaye.