Rodrigo Muniz scored six minutes into second-half stoppage time as Fulham salvaged a dramatic 1-1 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion in their opening game of the 2025/26 Premier League season.
Muniz, who has been linked with a move away from Craven Cottage, netted from Fulham's final attack after they had struggled to muster a threat at the American Express Stadium.
Matt O’Riley’s penalty 10 minutes into the second half looked like it would be enough to hand Brighton victory, following Sander Berge's foul on Georginio Rutter.
But when Tom Cairney's corner was flicked towards the far post in the final minute of stoppage time, Muniz fired home to spark wild celebrations among the visiting fans. Brighton did not have time for another attack.
How the match unfolded
Both sides struggled to find their feet during a low-key first half, with chances at a premium despite Brighton bossing possession.
Kaoru Mitoma nodded over from a tight angle in the 28th minute, while at the other end Harry Wilson’s header was also too high.
However, the deadlock was broken early in the second half, with O’Riley confidently slotting home from 12 yards after Berge tripped Rutter in the box.
That was the 1,000th goal Fulham had conceded in the Premier League, becoming the 13th side to do so.
The hosts went close to doubling their lead as Yankuba Minteh fired over following a swift counter, while Bernd Leno’s blushes were spared when he just about gathered Diego Gomez’s long-range drive at the second attempt.
Lewis Dunk also headed into the side-netting and Brajan Gruda dragged a couple of efforts wide late on.
However, there was to be a dramatic twist as, with virtually the last kick of the game, Muniz controlled Wilson's deflected corner before finishing across goal on his left foot.
Seagulls denied at the last
Brighton are renowned fast starters to the season; their streak of four successive Matchweek 1 victories was the longest run of any Premier League side ahead of 2025/26.
Despite losing Joao Pedro to Chelsea and Pervis Estupinan to AC Milan, Fabian Hurzeler’s side gathered momentum by going unbeaten during pre-season, winning four of their five matches.
The Seagulls briefly thought they had found the breakthrough after just four minutes here, but the ball had gone out of play before Minteh fired into the top-right corner from Carlos Baleba’s cross.
While opportunities did not fall too freely, Brighton carried the greater attacking threat for most of the contest and looked good value for their lead.
Hurzeler introduced James Milner late on for his 639th Premier League appearance, which have now spanned across 24 seasons. The 39-year-old requires just 15 more to surpass Gareth Barry’s record.
However, the hosts could not hold out and saw two points slip away in dramatic fashion.
Next Sunday they will be Everton’s first Premier League visitors at their new home at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Fulham and Muniz dig deep
Fulham came into their fourth consecutive campaign in the Premier League fresh from registering their record points tally in 2024/25.
Silva’s side appeared to be in with a chance of qualifying for Europe last season, but they slipped out of contention towards the end of the season.
Fulham have made just one signing during the ongoing transfer window – bringing in goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte as back-up to Leno – and large periods of Saturday's game highlighted their need to strengthen if they are to kick on again.
Having only started one of their last eight league campaigns with a victory, it was always going to be difficult for Fulham against a Brighton side that had only lost twice at home in 2025.
The visitors generally struggled to impose themselves on the contest and appeared set for a bleak start. They had only recorded one shot on target as the game ticked into stoppage time.
But that all changed in the 96th minute, when Muniz sparked joyous scenes among the away supporters, who will hope not to have seen him in a Fulham shirt for the final time. The Brazilian celebrated by grabbing a fan's scarf and holding it aloft.
The point gives Silva’s men something to build on ahead of welcoming Manchester United to Craven Cottage next Sunday – by which time he will hope some new faces have arrived.
Club reports
Brighton report | Fulham report
What the managers said
Fabian Hurzeler: "For sure it feels painful. It's really important to take the positives away. We played well and defended good. We should score the second goal and I think the game would be over. That's football."
Next fixtures
Key facts
Brighton and Hove Albion are unbeaten on the opening day of the Premier League season in each of the last five campaigns (W4 D1), with today the first time they’ve drawn their opening Premier League game (five wins, three losses).
Since the start of last season, only Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion (both 23) have earned more points from losing positions than Fulham (22), avoiding defeat in three of the last six league games in which they’ve conceded first (two wins, one draw, three losses).
Only Liverpool (nine) have won more penalties in the Premier League than Brighton since the start of last season (eight), with the Seagulls scoring each one.
O’Riley is the sixth Brighton player to score a penalty in successive Premier League appearances, after doing so on the final day of last season against Spurs. Indeed, he’s the first to do so for the club since João Pedro in March last season.