Brighton 3-3 Brentford: European contenders can't be separated in Amex thriller

Report and free match highlights as European contenders share the spoils; Alexis Mac Allister's 89th-minute penalty rescued a point for Brighton who had 33 shots at goal

Saturday 1 April 2023 21:39, UK

Brighton and Brentford played out an extraordinary 3-3 draw as the Seagulls came from behind three times to snatch a deserved point.

The visitors looked to be heading to a gritty away win until Alexis Mac Allister levelled matters with a minute of normal time to go from the spot after Aaron Hickey was penalised for handball following a VAR review. The result moves both teams above Liverpool, who drop to eighth place.

It was a fitting end to a pulsating and remarkable encounter that saw four goals scored inside the first 28 minutes. Pontus Jansson headed Brentford in front before Karou Mitoma lobbed the Seagulls level after a fantastic assist from goalkeeper Jason Steele. The parity lasted for just a minute though as Ivan Toney slammed the visitors ahead before Danny Welbeck levelled once more with a header.

Team news

Evan Ferguson was missing from the Brighton squad so Danny Welbeck led the line for Roberto De Zerbi’s team. Jason Steele kept his place in goal having ousted Robert Sanchez from the No.1 spot in recent weeks. In defence, Levi Colwill was preferred to Adam Webster.
Thomas Frank made just one change for Brentford from their 1-1 draw with Leicester and but it was a significant one that signalled a chance in system as centre-back Pontus Jannson replaced striker Yoane Wissa.

Ethan Pinnock prodded home just after the break to leave Brentford dreaming of a potential top-four push but Brighton kept on probing and got their reward when Mac Allister kept his cool from the spot.

The hosts posted an incredible tally of 33 shots at Brentford's goal - no side have posted more in a game this season - with every outfield starting player registering at least two efforts which made them the first side since Opta starting collecting data in 2003 to achieve such a feat.

Yet despite creating a total expected goals figure of 4.55 they couldn't put dogged Brentford away.

How spoils were shared in intense encounter...

This was a billed as a matchup between perhaps the two shrewdest run clubs in the country and they put on a show with the backdrop of European football on the horizon. With 28 minutes gone, we had already been treated to 28 shots in what epitomised everything that is brilliant about this sport.

Recalled Bees defender Jansson claimed the 10th-minute opener, rising above rival captain Lewis Dunk to thump a powerful header beyond Jason Steele following Mathias Jensen's inviting in-swinging cross from the left.

Midfielder Jensen then had the opportunity to double the away side's lead but his stinging effort from an indirect free-kick inside Albion's box was blocked by Mac Allister after Steele picked up Pervis Estupinan's back pass.

Steele made amends for the momentary lapse in judgement in the 21st minute by claiming an assist. The keeper's pinpoint punt up field caught out the Bees' backline and Mitoma, who was denied by a superb sliding block from Pinnock early on, raced clear to coolly lob the stranded David Raya.

Joel Veltman then conceded possession from a throw-in deep in Brighton territory and Toney, who made his England debut last weekend, collected a neat flicked pass from Bryan Mbeumo to dispatch his 17th league goal of the season into the bottom right corner.

Welbeck then made it 2-2, leaping at the back post to nod Solly March's right-wing cross into the ground and beyond Raya.

For all of their attacking enterprise, Brighton's performance was being undone by sloppy defending.

Brentford were back in front within four minutes of the restart when Pinnock escaped the static Albion rearguard to prod home unmarked following Mbeumo's searching free-kick into the area.

Brighton remained camped in the Brentford half with their ability to sustain attacks leaving the visitors no time for a breather. Raya saved from March, Veltman and Pascal Gross, while Dunk wastefully headed over for an Estupinan cross during relentless home pressure.

With time running out, Brighton remained focused and created one last big moment when substitute Denis Undav's close-range effort was deflected over the bar by Hickey.

Referee Michael Oliver initially awarded a corner but replays showed his shot struck the outstretched arm of the Bees right-back and Mac Allister made it 3-3 from 12 yards.

De Zerbi confirms Brighton are targeting European qualification

Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi: "It's a great point but sometimes football can be cruel. We show character and patience. We played fantastic. There was only one team on the pitch, we conceded three goals in an incredible way. If we continue to concede like this we won't achieve our target. We deserve to achieve our target as we're playing in a fantastic way. It was one of the best performances in my time. It's difficult to play better than we did today."

When asked if the target is qualifying for Europe, he said: "I think so."

Frank: We are dreaming

Brentford boss Thomas Frank said: "We are dreaming, we want to finish as high as possible. The team did well in spells and we showed a threat when we went forward on counter-attacks and set-pieces. I'm pleased with how dangerous we looked.

Of course when you lead three times you want more. I don't think it looked like we were ever going to lose but I understand they scored and created pressure. But in the end we were pushing and [came] closer to score the fourth goal.

"Raya was a little bit too busy for me but I think this is the first time we've really, really needed him as he made crucial saves that kept us in the game."

Where do Brighton or Brentford need to finish to qualify for Europe?

The top four in the Premier League qualify for the Champions League group stage
Fifth place and the FA Cup winners qualify for the Europa League group stage
The Carabao Cup winners qualify for the Europa Conference League playoff

However, if Man City, Man Utd or Brighton win the FA Cup and finish in the top five their Europa League qualifying spot for winning the competition will be passed down to the next highest Premier League finisher who doesn't qualify for Europe, so sixth place.

Similarly, because Man Utd won the Carabao Cup and will likely finish in the top five, their Europa Conference League qualifying spot from that competition will go to the next highest Premier League finisher without European football, so seventh place.

How the game played out

What's next?

Brighton's next game is a trip to Bournemouth on Tuesday night - before the Seagulls play three successive games in London.

Premier League trips to Tottenham and Chelsea come in the two Saturdays before their FA Cup semi-final with Manchester United at Wembley on April 23.

Brentford face two more teams above them in the table over the next seven days, with a trip to Manchester United on Wednesday night coming days before the Bees welcome Newcastle at the Gtech Community Stadium next Saturday.