Brighton refused to let Leeds United walk away with all three points as Luka Vuskovic’s first goal for the club rescued a 1-1 draw at the Amex.
The visitors looked set to end their long wait for a win in Sussex after Jayden Bogle gave Leeds a first-half lead.
But Brighton grew into the contest after the break, turned up the pressure and eventually found their reward when Vuskovic rose highest to level the game in the 72nd minute.
The result means Leeds have still failed to win any of their 11 visits to Sussex, despite controlling large parts of the first half and creating enough opportunities to put the game beyond Brighton.
Leeds made their attacking threat clear from the opening stages, particularly when they won the ball and attacked quickly.
Their breakthrough arrived in the 16th minute, although it came from a set-piece rather than a transition.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin forced Bart Verbruggen into an excellent save with a header from a recycled corner.
Ao Tanaka reacted quickest to the loose situation, sending the ball across the face of goal for Bogle to tap home.
Brighton were fortunate not to fall further behind soon afterwards.
Calvert-Lewin beat the offside trap, rounded Verbruggen and looked ready to double Leeds’ advantage, only for Lewis Dunk to produce a vital goalline clearance.
The danger continued when Brighton failed to properly clear another corner and Noah Okafor struck the crossbar with a volley.
The hosts struggled to build sustained attacking momentum but eventually threatened through Diego Gomez, whose effort forced James Trafford into a sharp reaction save in the 29th minute.
Brighton emerged with greater purpose after the interval, but Leeds still carried a serious threat.
Verbruggen produced another crucial intervention just after half-time, using his right foot to block Anton Stach’s effort and prevent Leeds from opening up a two-goal cushion.
Tanaka then appeared to have found the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Brighton began to turn the pressure around.
Pascal Gross came close when his right-footed effort shaved the outside of the post, while Verbruggen had to remain alert at the other end to deny James Justin after another dangerous Leeds break.
The equaliser eventually arrived after Brighton’s persistence began to tell.
Babis Kostoulas had earlier missed a golden opportunity after beating three challenges, but his effort from 12 yards lacked the power and precision needed to beat Trafford.
Malick Yalcouye then forced the Leeds goalkeeper into another save with a curling effort.
And in the 72nd minute, Brighton finally got their reward.
With Trafford stranded, Vuskovic attacked De Cuyper’s inswinging corner at the far post and headed the ball home.
It was the defender’s first goal for Brighton and a huge moment in the game. The hosts sensed a winner.
Yalcouye almost created another opening after springing the offside trap, but Tarik Muharemovic raced back to make a crucial intervention.
Leeds responded with pressure of their own, with Dunk throwing himself in front of Lukas Nmecha’s shot.
Brighton still looked the more likely side to snatch victory, though, and Trafford had to make an important save to keep out Ayari’s attempt towards the far corner.
The closing stages became frantic, with both teams having chances to steal all three points.
Promise David had a huge opportunity to become an instant hero when Boscagli’s cross reached him near the edge of the six-yard box, but the ball bounced awkwardly off his knee.
Gross then endured another frustrating moment when he volleyed over from six yards.
At the other end, Calvert-Lewin dragged a late effort wide of the far post. Neither side could find the decisive touch.
Brighton will ultimately feel they deserved their point after recovering from a difficult first half, while Leeds will wonder how they failed to turn their early dominance into victory.
For Vuskovic, however, the afternoon will be remembered for a different reason.
His first Brighton goal sparked the comeback and ensured the Seagulls avoided defeat.
One point may not have been everything Brighton wanted, but after trailing for much of the afternoon, it was a hard-earned reward for their second-half fightback.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
