Brighton fights back to draw 3-3 against Wolves

Updated Jan. 2, 2021 3:21 p.m. ET
Associated Press

BRIGHTON, England (AP) — Struggling Brighton fought back from two goals down to snatch a point in a thrilling 3-3 Premier League draw with Wolves on Saturday.

Captain Lewis Dunk nodded in the home side’s 70th-minute equalizer at the Amex Stadium after Neal Maupay’s penalty early in the second half sparked a seemingly unlikely comeback.

Midtable Wolves had complete control at halftime thanks to Romain Saiss’ header, Dan Burn's own-goal and Ruben Neves’ spotkick following Aaron Connolly’s early opener for Brighton.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolves crumbled after the restart and may be thankful not to leave the south coast empty-handed as the Seagulls also struck the crossbar through Adam Webster during a vastly improved second-half showing.

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Brighton remains without a home league win this season but showed plenty of the fighting spirit it will need to avoid relegation.

The Seagulls moved three points clear of the bottom three but have played two games more than 18th-place Fulham.

Brighton took the lead in the 13th minute when Leandro Trossard twisted and turned Rayan Ait-Nouri on the right flank before crossing for Connolly to poke home.

Morocco international Saiss leveled just six minutes later, diverting a looping header beyond Robert Sanchez following Nelson Semedo’s right-wing cross and Wolves edged ahead 11 minutes before the break.

Pedro Neto’s stinging effort from the right deflected off Solly March and was repelled by Sanchez, only for the ball to rebound off the unfortunate Burn and trickle over the line.

Burn’s miserable evening continued as he conceded a penalty a minute before the break, bringing down Adama Traore with a mistimed lunge.

Neves sent Sanchez the wrong way and a fightback looked unlikely. However, Brighton was given immediate cause for optimism as it halved the deficit within a minute of the resumption.

Maupay, who missed from the spot in the 1-1 draw with Liverpool last month, drew a foul from Joao Moutinho inside the area before picking himself to power the resulting penalty down the center of the goal.

And the comeback was complete when Dunk found space at the far post to powerfully connect with Trossard’s right-wing corner and nod beyond Rui Patrício.

Brighton had the better of the final 20 minutes without creating much and it was Wolves who went closest to a winner.

Unmarked substitute Owen Otasowie was presented with a golden chance deep into added time but headed over at the end of a pulsating match.

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