Seagulls swoop twice to seal draw
Brighton recover twice to salvage draw with Stoke
Brighton midfielder Jose Izquierdo (right) turning away after scoring the equaliser in his team’s 2-2 draw against Stoke during the English Premier League match at the Amex Stadium in Brighton on Monday. Stoke had taken a 1- 0 lead through forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting in the 28th minute. The newly-promoted Brighton, nicknamed Seagulls, levelled the score in the 44th minute through Pascal Gross, who hooked the ball home after a powerful solo run from Davy Propper. Moments later Stoke restored their advantage when Brighton defender Bruno turned his back on a corner and the ball bounced off him to on-loan Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma who headed home. Then came Izquierdo’s equaliser at the hour mark. The draw leaves Brighton in ninth place on 16 points from 12 games while Stoke are 15th on 13 points.
LONDON: Jose Izquierdo earned Brighton a point as Chris Hughton’s side twice came from behind to record a 2-2 draw against visitors Stoke.
Stoke twice went ahead at the Amex Stadium, first through Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and then Kurt Zouma, but Brighton hit back on each occasion via goals from Pascal Gross and Izquierdo.
Brighton –- promoted from the Championship last season – remain ninth, seven points above the relegation zone and three points above Mark Hughes’ Stoke, who stay in 15th.
“When you have been behind twice you have to show character and we did,” Hughton told Sky Sports on Monday.
“We have to be realistic. We are playing against better teams and better players and if you can’t win games then don’t lose them.”
The outcome of a lively game on the English south coast means Brighton have gone five consecutive matches unbeaten in the top flight for the first time since March to April 1983.
There were opportunities at both ends in the early stages, but Brighton seemed to be getting the upper hand when Stoke drew first blood in the 28th minute.
Xherdan Shaqiri’s fine, raking pass from the halfway line fell perfectly into the path of ChoupoMoting, who expertly plucked the ball from the sky before planting a shot past Mat Ryan.
The home fans – and players – were enraged when Glenn Murray appeared to be felled inside the box by Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross, only for referee Lee Mason to award a goal-kick.
“I think I clipped him. The referee didn’t have the best angle. It probably was a penalty,” said Shawcross.
Anger turned to celebration in the 44th minute when Brighton midfielder Davy Proepper’s twinkle-toed run took him into space on the right and his low cross was driv- en past Lee Grant by Gross.
But within two minutes the visitors had restored their lead, a corner striking Brighton captain Bruno on the back and Zouma throwing himself at the loose ball to head in his first Stoke goal.
Brighton goalkeeper Ryan kept his side in touch by blocking from Ramadan Sobhi early in the second half and on the hour the hosts drew level again.
After Zouma had failed to cut out a high ball, Izquierdo’s attempted cross from the left came back to him and the Colombia winger lashed the ball past Grant.
“It’s an away point and you have to be happy with that. Brighton didn’t create too much of note so we are disappointed with the goals we conceded,” said Hughes.
“Overall we were very much in control of the game. I suppose we have to be happy with the result,” he added.