Jan Paul van Hecke Secures Draw for Brighton After Verbruggen's Costly Error Versus Wolves

The Norwegian striker, after being a big-money transfer collapse late in the window, appeared frustratedly arguing with Wolves' coaching staff when the match ended. This came following his late substitution, shortly after he struck the post with Wolves ahead thanks to Bart Verbruggen's own goal. Brighton pushed for a late leveler, that finally arrived through defender Van Hecke.

Wolverhampton Denied Again by Late Goal

For the second successive week, Wolves' bid to kickstart their campaign underway was thwarted by a late tying goal. The Wolves manager had been sent off shortly prior to the Premier League's last-placed team went ahead, after Marshall Munetsi's shot rebounded off the bar and deflected off the Brighton goalkeeper.

Brighton's side deserved a draw for their after-interval control, but Wolves, in their second consecutive match following their tie at Spurs, looked as if they were going to hang on for a first league win of the season before conceding a late equaliser.

Game Turns with Incidents

Strand Larsen looked Wolves' best bet for a decisive additional goal, and the hosts looked struggling to get out with Jhon Arias spearheading the attack. The match exploded into action in the middle of the opening period.

Pereira was furious at Jarred Gillett's call not to award a free-kick when Gomes was challenged by Baleba midway in the Brighton half. Then, following the referee cautioned Baleba for an altogether clearer infraction on Hugo Bueno, the red card was shown to the coach for kicking a replacement ball off a cone at the referee's dugout. Although he quickly apologised, it was evidently a reckless act. The tension had been lit.

When a deep set-piece into the visitors' box was nodded back into the six-yard box, Danny Welbeck only managed to clear the ball out as far as Munetsi, on the right side of the spot, who unleashed a true hammer of a shot goalwards. Although Verbruggen managed to deflect the ball against the underside of the crossbar, it bounced back and over the line after hitting the goalkeeper's glove.

A single goal almost became two, only for Verbruggen to calmly tip Krejci's headed effort, from another high diagonal free-kick, over the bar. Brighton, with their deeply impressive history at their ground – they had taken victory in their previous four matches here – and a positive start to the season as well, broke forward with sporadic threat.

After the Break Action

When Jackson Tchatatchoua underhit a return pass, Brajan Gruda was entitled to contest Sam Johnstone for the ball, although he did catch the home goalkeeper with his follow-through. After a tetchy period, the importance of the next goal became more obvious. It almost fell Wolves' favor, early in the second period, only for Jhon Arias to sidefoot over the bar from close range after a excellent break led by Strand Larsen, after he allowed Hwang Hee-chan to set up the advancing Hugo Bueno to cross into the box.

The away side, a little slow in the first half, looked stronger for the introduction of Rutter and, from Yankuba Minteh's left-side delivery, the replacement could barely have struck his shot any more perfectly.

Johnstone, however, vindicating his selection in goal ahead of José Sá, leapt back to his right to save. Hürzeler had already asked Ayari to patrol the base of his engine room on his own, resulting in Brighton to more possession control, when he brought on the striker Stefanos Tzimas to join Welbeck in the frontline, with Gómez just in support of them.

Late Twist as Van Hecke Strikes

Brighton have notched more goals against Wolves than against every other team in the top division. But Wolves were set to hang on to what they had and so came close to sealing the game to bed when Strand Larsen shot against the base of the upright. The Norwegian forward, still seeking peak condition after an achilles injury, appeared far from impressed when he was withdrawn moments later as Luis Miguel, the manager's assistant, looked to shore up the win. The move failed however as Brighton drew level with 4 minutes remaining.

Wolves felt the ball had already gone out for a goal-kick when Tchatatchoua made sure by nudging it forward. From Minteh's short set-piece, Maxim De Cuyper crossed and, after the substitute got a small touch, the defender thudded home only his second goal in seventy-seven league appearances for the team.