A L B I O N G A Z E T T E - ( vi )
20 SEPTEMBER 2025
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 2 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2
PREMIER LEAGUE
at the AMERICAN EXPRESS STADIUM, FALMER.
Following the disappointing result at Bournemouth, the Albion welcomed Tottenham Hotspur to the Amex for a Premier League encounter, the game being broadcast by BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
In their previous outing the Albion had lost 1-2 at AFC Bournemouth in the Premier on the 13 September and for the visit of the Spurs the Albion made four changes to their starting line-up from that game, with Ferdi Kadioglu, Carlos Baleba, Yasin Ayari and Brajan Gruda coming in for Maxim De Cuyper (injured), James Milner, Jack Hinshelwood (injured) and Danny Welbeck.
After winning the UEFA Europa League in May, in the summer Spurs decided to dispense with the services of Head Coach Ange Postecoglu and replaced him with Thomas Frank formerly of Brentford. Soon after the start of this season there was the surprise news that Spurs Chairman Daniel Levy had stood down as chairman of the club with immediate effect, after over twenty years in that position.
In their previous Premier League fixture Spurs had won 3-0 at West Ham on the 13 September and for their visit to the Amex Spurs made four changes to their starting line-up from that game, with Destiny Udogie, Rodrigo Bentancur, Richarlison and Wilson Odobert replacing Djed Spence, Pape Matar Sarr, Mathys Tel and Xavi Simons.
Subsequent to the West Ham match, Spurs had a home Champions League game with Villarreal on the 16 September, which they won 1-0.
Last season saw the Albion do the double over Spurs, winning 3-2 at the Amex on the 6 October 2024, with Yankuba Minteh (48m), Georginio Rutter (58m) and Danny Welbeck (66m) on the scoresheet. Spurs goals came from Brennan Johnson (23m) and James Maddison (37m). In the return game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the 25 May 2025 it was 4-1 to the Albion, with the goals coming from Jack Hinshelwood 2 (51m & 64m), Matt O'Riley penalty (88m) and Diego Gomez (90+3m), whilst Spurs goal came from Dominic Solanke penalty (17m).
A brisk start by the visitors saw Destiny Udogie get clear on the left but Jan Paul Van Hecke was on hand to clear the defender's dangerous cross. On 8 minutes the Albion took the lead with a breathtaking goal as Brajan Gruda and Georginio Rutter combined to send Yankuba Minteh clear of the Spurs back-line and the winger ran through from the halfway line before waltzing round keeper Guglielmo Vicario and tapping the ball home with his left-foot. An excellent goal. 1-0.
Richarlison then got on the end of a long-pass from Pedro Porro but sent his shot into the side-netting. On 31 minutes Albion increased their lead when Lucas Bergwall's misplaced pass went straight to Yasin Ayari who ran in from the left before unleashing a superb swerving right-foot shot from 20 yards out which flew past the helpless Vicario. 2-0.
Spurs pulled a goal back on 43 minutes when mistakes by Carlos Baleba and then Ayari in the middle of the park enabled Spurs to combine through Wilson Odobert, Rodrigo Bentancur and Mohammed Kudus before the ball fell to Richarlison who swept the ball home for Spurs opener. 2-1. An exciting first-half for the fans.
Half-time 2-1.
Albion substituted Diego Gomez for the disappointing Baleba at the start of the second-half. The persistent Rutter then cut the ball back to Ayari but the midfielder's shot was just wide of the target. Substitute Xavi Simons embarked on a fine run from the left but his low shot saw Albion keeper Bart Verbruggen make an excellent finger-tip save to deflect the ball away for a corner.
The Seagulls went close to netting a third when James Milner's astute through pass sent Kaoru Mitoma clear on the right but his pass to Ferdi Kadioglu saw the Turkey international fire his shot well wide. Spurs eventually drew level on 82 minutes when a cross from Kudus from the right hit the unfortunate Van Hecke on the knees and bounce into the Albion net to draw the teams level. 2-2.
In time added-on Kudus saw his left-foot shot hit the heel of Lewis Dunk and deflect away to safety.
Final-score 2-2.
Match stats:
Albion had 12 attempts at goal, with 4 on target and won 2 corners, free-kicks conceded - 10.
Spurs had 11 attempts at goal, with 3 on target and won 10 corners, free-kicks conceded - 13.VERDICT - An exciting encounter at the Amex ended all-square but the Albion will regret tossing away a 2 goal lead and the manner in which the two Spurs goals were conceded. The Albion goals scored by Yankuba Minteh and Yasin Ayari were superb but the Albion need to learn how to retain a lead.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Bart VERBRUGGEN; Joel VELTMAN, Jan Paul VAN HECKE, Lewis DUNK (Capt), Ferdi KADIOGLU (Mats WIEFFER 85); Carlos BALEBA (Diego GOMEZ 46), Yasin AYARI; Yankuba MINTEH (Diego COPPOLA 75), Brajan GRUDA (James MILNER 63),Kaoru MITOMA; Georginio RUTTER (Danny WELBECK 75).
Subs not used: Jason STEELE (G/K), Olivier BOSCAGLI, Stefanos TZIMAS, Tommy WATSON.Tottenham Hotspur line-up (4-3-3):- Guglielmo VICARIO; Pedro PORRO (Djed SPENCE 89), Cristian ROMERO (Capt), Micky Van de VEN, Destiny UDOGIE; Lucas BERGWALL (Archie GRAY 89), Joao PALHINHA, Rodrigo ENTANCUR (Xavi SIMONS 61); Mohammed KUDUS, RICHARLISON, Wilson ODOBERT (Brennan JOHNSON 72). Subs not used: Antonin KINSKY (G/K), Kevin DANSO, Pape Matar SARR, Dane SCARLETT, Mathys TEL.
Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Leicestershire).
Fourth Official: Tom Nield.
VAR Official: Neil Davies.Yellow Cards: Albion: 1 - Diego Gomez. Spurs: 2 - Cristian Romero, Mohammed Kudus.
Possession: Albion - 36%. Spurs - 64%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Mohammed Kudus (Spurs).
Attendance: 31488.
NEXT GAME:
27 SEPTMBER 2025 - CHELSEA - AWAY - PREMIER LEAGUE - KICK-OFF 15.00.
Jack Kaye.