Brighton & Hove Albion have concluded 2023 on an impressive high after they secured a 4-2 home victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Thursday night.
Jack Hinshelwood's early opener as well as two Joao Pedro penalties either side of a stunning long-range strike from Pervis Estupinan put the Seagulls into a comfortable four-goal lead with 15 minutes remaining, but two late goals from Spurs duo Alejo Veliz and Ben Davies set up an intriguing finish on the South Coast.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg rattled the post in stoppage time, but Tottenham's last-ditch efforts were ultimately in vain as Roberto De Zerbi's side held on to claim maximum points and climb to eighth in the Premier League table.
Ange Postecoglou's men missed the chance to climb to as high as third in the top-flight standings and will instead enter the New Year in fifth place, one point behind the top four and six points adrift of leaders Liverpool.
Both teams made a lively start to proceedings, but it Guglielmo Vicario who was the busier of the two goalkeepers and was forced to deny Danny Welbeck with two superb saves inside the first six minutes.
Shortly after palming away an effort at the near post, Vicario produced an excellent diving save to his left to keep out Welbeck's powerful strike from around 10 yards out.
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However, the Italian shot-stopper was unable to keep out Hinshelwood on the 11-minute mark, as the 18-year-old smacked his emphatic right-footed shot into the roof of the net to give Brighton the lead following a surging run and neat footwork inside the area from Pedro.
The Seagulls were then awarded a penalty following a VAR review after Dejan Kulusevski clumsily pulled the back of Welbeck's shirt during a corner, and Pedro stepped up and sent Vicario the wrong way to double the hosts' advantage.
Spurs responded with a decent chance just before the hour mark when Brennan Johnson whipped a low delivery across the face of goal, but it was just beyond Richarlison at the back post.
Brighton midfielder James Milner, making his 35th career appearance against Spurs, was inches away from adding a third for Brighton when he curled a stunning 20-yard strike against the post, before Facundo Buonanotte was ruled offside after side-footing a sweet half-volley beyond Vicario.
Shortly before half time, a misplaced back-pass from Spurs right-back Pedro Porro played Brighton's No.9 clean through on goal, but the Brazilian's dinked effort was tipped narrowly wide by Vicario, before Richarlison whipped a right-footed shot against the outside of the post at the other end.
Despite boasting more possession and having more touches in the oppositions box Spurs failed to register a single shot on target in the first half and required a rousing second-half performance to somehow thwart the impressive collective efforts of Brighton.
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