Southampton falters late in draw against Brighton

Neal Maupay equalised dramatically in the 98th minute as Brighton, who had been reduced to 10 men through injury, snatched victory away from Southampton in a 1-1 Premier League draw on Saturday afternoon.

When Maupay hit the back of the net, he did so amongst confusion from the Southampton bench, as James Ward-Prowse retreated towards his goal, playing the Frenchman onside in order to provide cover for the injured Alex McCarthy.

The Saints stopper had been grasping at his hamstring late in the match and even had defender Lyanco take a goal kick, but all was lost to manager Ralph Hasenhuttl who admitted in his post-match interview that he was unaware of the injury.

Hasenhuttl still had a substitution at his disposal with 23-year-old goalkeeper Harry Lewis on the bench in place of the injured Fraser Forster.

The Austrian will now face being without both first-team goalkeepers ahead of Southampton’s trip to Arsenal next, as well as the suspended duo of Mohamed Salisu and Oriol Romeu.

Southampton would’ve climbed into 11th with a win, but instead they added to a growing tally of over 70 points lost from winning positions over a near three year stretch under manager Ralph Hasenhuttl.

Brighton is without a win in 10 top-flight games, but the Seagulls have rescued unlikely points in dramatic fashion in each of the last two outings with Maupay playing the hero in both.

The Frenchman, who had seen an earlier chance saved, fired home the equaliser after being found by Jakub Moder’s volleyed cross after his initial free-kick was blocked.

Southampton appeared to be on their way to a fourth league victory after taking a deserved lead through Armando Broja approaching the half-hour mark.

The on-loan forward latched onto Nathan Redmond’s flick on from Lyanco’s long pass before turning Shane Duffy to and fro and rolling an outside-of-the-foot shot past Robert Sanchez.

Saints had made the brighter start and were unlucky to be further ahead with Sanchez denying Broja and Che Adams with successive saves inside the opening five minutes.

Enock Mwepu and Trossard each forced first-half saves from McCarthy, whose spot in the team has come under fire, but Brighton provided little threat before the break.

Broja should’ve doubled the lead five minutes after the restart only to roll his effort wide of the far post.

Brighton almost found their equaliser through Maupay, but McCarthy came up with a huge save from point-blank range to preserve Southampton’s lead.

Maupay, however, drained all the air out of the stadium when he turned in the box and fired into the corner before racing towards the stands holding up a finger to his mouth for silence.

Southampton (4-4-2): McCarthy, Livramento, Lyanco, Salisu, Walker-Peters; Redmond, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Tella (Elyounoussi 84); Adams, Broja (Armstrong 81)

Unused subs: Lewis (GK), Stephens, Long, Perraud, Smallbone, Diallo, Walcott

Goals: Broja (29)

Bookings: Tella (69), Salisu (80), Elyounoussi (90+4), Romeu (90+7)

Brighton (3-5-2): Sanchez; Burn, Duffy, Veltman (Moder 78); Cucurella, Gross (Connolly 55), Bissouma, Mwepu, Lamptey (March 63); Maupay, Trossard

Unused subs: Steele (GK), Mac Allister, Scherpen, Locadia, Roberts, Richards

Goals: Maupay (90+8)

Bookings: Duffy (45), Bissouma (74)