Charalampos Kostoulas pulled off an audacious overhead kick to stage Brighton’s conflict with Bournemouth in dramatic vogue, with the competition all sq. on Monday night time at 1-1.
The Greek worldwide conjured the equaliser from a second of magic, ready within the field for a excessive chipped cross from Jan Paul van Hecke.
Relatively than attempting to create space for himself to get the shot away, Kostoulas managed the ball off his chest, earlier than swinging himself into an acrobatic kick which outsmarted goalkeeper Djorde Petrovic.
‘For you, it was the primary time that you simply see it,’ Kostoulas mentioned after the ultimate whistle. ‘Lewis (Dunk, his co-interviewee) has seen it quite a lot of instances in coaching.
‘I actually like this option to rating, or attempt to rating. Right now the ball went into the web. I’m glad for this aim. However the end result might be higher for us. We’d like these three factors to maintain pushing till the top of the season.’
‘I’ve seen some’ Dunk added when requested how usually Kostoulas practiced the transfer. ‘It is higher in coaching.
Charalampos Kostoulas pulled off an outrageous overhead kick to assist Brighton safe some extent
The Greek worldwide claimed after the ultimate whistle that he frequently practices the transfer
‘However that was unbelievable. He is a particular expertise, and I believe you have seen glimpses, however there’s much more to return’.
Brighton have been denied their second consecutive win on the final, lacking out on the chance to attract stage on factors with the Seagulls.
Empty seats within the away finish betrayed the truth that this fixture is hardly a South Coast ‘derby’, no matter broadcasters would possibly suppose, with virtually 100 miles between the 2 golf equipment’ grounds and 7 Premier League golf equipment nearer to the Amex than the Vitality Stadium. However the followers who made the arduous journey will really feel the sting of defeat on the final no much less keenly.
Bournemouth supervisor Andoni Iraola chosen Amine Adli on the left for the primary league sport since Antoine Semenyo was offered to Manchester Metropolis. Adli had stuffed the function within the 3-3 FA Cup draw away to Newcastle and the boss turned out to be justified in believing he deserved first stab at filling some fairly large boots. Ryan Christie, restricted to at least one sport up to now 9 by a knee damage, was on the Cherries’ bench.
Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma started his one hundredth Premier League sport, making him the third Japanese participant to achieve that milestone after Maya Yoshida (154) and Shinji Okazaki (114).
Though neither group had precisely been in a wealthy vein of type till just lately, Bournemouth’s victory over Spurs of their earlier league sport and Brighton’s FA Cup triumph at Previous Trafford 9 days in the past and their unbeaten begin to 2026 meant that each had causes for optimism forward of final night time’s encounter.
Brighton started with a bewildering passage of interpassing that denied Bournemouth possession for a lot of the opening ten minutes and will have seen them take the lead however for Djordje Petrovic’s diving save from Brajan Gruda’s 20-yarder.
However when the guests lastly obtained the ball, they made openings. Bart Verbruggen needed to save from Evanilson and harmful crosses got here in from each wings by courtesy of Marcus Tavernier and Adrien Truffert.
Out of the blue Brighton’s early confidence evaporated they usually couldn’t do a factor proper. In some way they left themselves with no cowl following a nook and Tavernier charged by the empty area to arrange Adli. The Moroccan fell below problem from Verbruggen and at first referee Paul Tierney booked him for simulation. However after consulting his monitor he awarded a penalty that Tavernier smacked house.
Jack Hinshelwood had a header effectively saved by Petrovic as Brighton tried to get better their early dominance however they have been vast open once more on the again as Evanilson went by and hit a publish with solely Verbruggen to beat, then headed vast with defenders nowhere.
Brighton have been fortunate nonetheless to be within the sport at half time. Mitoma curled a shot a foot vast as they appeared to take advantage of that luck, however the guests weren’t about to collapse to pretty fundamental stress. Finally Brighton boss Hurzeler made a triple substitution, throwing on the pacy Yankuba Minteh and the combative Carlos Baleba together with report signing Georginio Rutter – and by shaking issues up with Kostoulas because the penultimate substitute, unlocked the most recent of alternatives.
