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Son Heung-min returned from Asian Cup duty to great effect as he came off the bench to set up another stoppage-time winner for Tottenham Hotspur as Brennan Johnson’s goal earned his team a turnaround 2-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion that lifted them to fourth in the table.
How the match unfolded
Spurs made two changes from last Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Everton as Pape Sarr and Dejan Kulusevski came in for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Brennan Johnson.
Roberto De Zerbi, who was absent due to a ban and after dental surgery, made five changes, with Jack Hinshelwood, Julio Igor, Joao Pedro and Evan Ferguson replaced by Pervis Estupinan, Adam Lallana, Danny Welbeck and Kaoru Mitoma, also back from the Asian Cup.
Brighton made a fast start to the match, with Danny Welbeck forcing Guglielmo Vicario into a full-stretch save to tip the striker’s shot round a post.
Welbeck was involved again in the first goal, winning a penalty after being kicked on the ankle by Micky van de Ven. Pascal Gross stepped up and sent his spot-kick into the top corner.
Spurs started to gain a foothold in the match and had their first chance to equalise through Richarlison was played in on goal but saw his effort blocked by the onrushing Jason Steele.
James Maddison came close to an equaliser when his curling shot went just wide of the top corner.
Spurs finally went level through Sarr who was sent through by a brilliant ball from Dejan Kulusevski. Sarr’s cross hit Brighton captain Lewis Dunk and then the near post before rebounding to Sarr to convert.
Brighton nearly regained the lead through Ansu Fati, who shot just wide of a post from Mitoma’s cutback. Facundo Buonanotte then saw his goalbound effort deflected wide by Van de Ven.
With the contest finely balanced, substitutes Son and Johnson combined. Spurs broke down the left and Son crossed to the Welshman to convert at the back post in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
It was Spurs’ third stoppage-time winner of the season takes them to 47 points, two behind Arsenal and one ahead of Aston Villa, who face Manchester United on Sunday.
Brighton, who have not won away from home since 25 November, remain eighth on 35 points.
Club reports
Spurs report | Brighton report
Match officials
Referee: Sam Barrott. Assistants: Neil Davies, Wade Smith. Fourth official: Keith Stroud. VAR: Jarred Gillett. Assistant VAR: Richard West.
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