Bart Verbruggen was the hero for Brighton after his stoppage-time penalty save from Igor Thiago earned a dramatic victory over Brentford. Brighton had looked like tasting defeat after Thiago’s ice-cool first-half spot-kick had the visitors in front.
Danny Welbeck’s 71st-minute leveller sparked a grandstand finish for Brighton and substitute Jack Hinshelwood completed the turnaround with six minutes left.
Further drama was to follow in stoppage time as Maxim De Cuyper was penalised for holding on to Kevin Schade by Chris Kavanagh, but Thiago was unable to earn Brentford a share of the spoils.
The casual penalty technique of Thiago came back to bite the Brazil forward as Verbruggen declined to dive until the last moment and saved the spot-kick to spark wild celebrations.
“I always have to believe and especially with Bart because I know what he is capable of doing,” said FabianHürzeler. “He is really working hard and he was there in the right moment with a big save. It is not a surprise because when you see him working, you see him develop, especially this season, you really see a step up. This gives him another boost regarding his development and self-confidence.”
The German was delighted with the win that lifted Brighton up to fifth place. “How we faced adversity and how my team stuck together. They showed personality, they showed character, they showed more quality in the second half and they definitely deserved to win this game,” he said.
Hürzeler was forced to sit in the stands having picked up three yellow cards this season and watched Brighton fashion the first chance after eight minutes when Yankuba Minteh turned Kristoffer Ajer, but Mats Wieffer fired straight at Caoimhín Kelleher.
Quality in the final third remained in short supply and was summed up when Yasin Ayari flicked the ball with his standing foot and ended up on the floor after an air kick, much to the amusement of Brentford’s away support.
Brighton slowly started to turn the screw – after Thiago had an effort for the visitors ruled out for offside – as Diego Gómez sent an effort over before Georginio Rutter tested Kelleher, but the deadlock was broken by Brentford after 29 minutes.
Thiago held the ball up well, showed his class with a backheel and Dango Ouattara’s rapid pace ensured he beat Carlos Baleba to the ball to win the spot-kick. Thiago made no mistake from 12 yards with Verbruggen sent the wrong way after a no-look penalty similar to Brentford’s former No 9 Ivan Toney.
Yehor Yarmoliuk volleyed wide soon after and although Minteh, Welbeck and Baleba had efforts before half-time, they were off target to ensure it remained 1-0 at the break. Baleba’s wayward strike was his final involvement as Hürzeler made a double change for the second half with Lewis Dunk and De Cuyper introduced.
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Not long after Rutter had penalty appeals waved away, De Cuyper nearly inspired a home leveller as he picked out the unmarked Olivier Boscagli, who recycled for Minteh to lay-off to Welbeck, but he smashed over from 12 yards.
Minteh then forced Kelleher to tip over his cross-cum-shot soon after before the equaliser arrived in the 71st minute. After Minteh cut inside, he produced a sumptuous cross for Welbeck to provide an equally deft first-time finish into the bottom corner for his seventh goal of the season.
Then another mazy Minteh run ended with a shot blocked into the path of Hinshelwood, and his scuffed effort nestled into the bottom corner to make it 2-1 to Brighton in the 84th minute.
Brentford’s manager, Keith Andrews, thought his side had rescued a point when Schade was held in the area and Kavanagh pointed to the spot, but Verbruggen denied Thiago in the fourth minute of stoppage-time.
“It is difficult for penalty takers and I am not just saying today, but in general from the time it is given until they actually take it and all the shenanigans that goes on in between,” said Andrews. “Thiago has been immense for us this season so there is no blame attached to him, but unfortunately we couldn’t quite get to the equaliser.”
