What might have been; what should have been. By the end of this strange, enthralling match two exhausted teams trudged off the Amex Stadium turf wondering how they had not won it. Both sides’ ruminations were entirely legitimate.
Leeds, who remain unbeaten three games into the season, rued not putting the game to bed long before Brighton even remembered they, too, were allowed to attack. Having led through Jayden Bogle’s early tap-in, the visitors were utterly dominant for the best part of an hour, bullying their hosts and seeing a number of chances go to waste. By the time Brighton belatedly gained a grasp on things, Leeds’ xG sat at 2.5 and the hosts’ languished just above 0.1.
Yet once the ignition had been sparked, Fabian Hürzeler’s side skipped second gear and went straight to fifth. A Luka Vuskovic header with 19 minutes remaining set up an unlikely thunderous finish from the hosts, which left Leeds clinging on to a point. In all, Brighton managed an astonishing 17 shots after half-time, with their dominance ever increasing as the clock ticked down.
Asked what had changed in the second period, Hürzeler replied: “Everything. We had more intensity, more energy, won more personal duels, we were sharp to the second balls.
“We can change a game within two or three minutes; we have this quality. But we have to be consistent to not always chase the result, to not always come back from an easy goal for the opponent. We have to find answers because two completely different halves is not enough.
“We showed a lot of energy, created plenty of chances, plenty of occasions when we were really dangerous in the opponent’s box. But we definitely need to start better.”
Not since 2009, at the Withdean Stadium, have Leeds won a game at Brighton.Bogle’s goal was the first they had even scored in nine visits, stretching back to November 2012.
“Overall, a point away at Brighton is really good for us given our recent record here,” said the Leeds manager Daniel Farke. “But more is even possible. At half-time, we should have been out of sight.
“In the second half, of course they put pressure on us, but we didn’t allow many chances. But the pressure is mounting and if you don’t bury the game Brighton has enough quality to come back and score. But I loved that my players dug in.”
Those travelling back to Yorkshire will have replayed the abundant opportunities their side’s earlier dominance yielded. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was twice put through on goal in the opening half, initially dragging his shot wide (which prompted a late offside flag) and then rounding the goalkeeper, only for Lewis Dunk to slide on the goal line and halt his shot.
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Anton Stach almost scored from close range immediately after half-time, and he then delivered a wonderful cross that Ao Tanaka turned past Bart Verbruggen, but the strike was ruled out after the Japanese midfielder had strayed a couple of inches offside. Tanaka had earlier smashed against the crossbar.
The only time Verbruggen’s goal was legitimately breached came after 15 minutes when Calvert-Lewin’s header was palmed out to Tanaka, who squared for Bogle to tap in from a yard.
Having averaged more than 70% possession in their opening two league games, Brighton again had the lion’s share, but took almost an hour to figure out how to do anything with it. Perversely, until that point they had seemed incapable of retaining the ball in key positions.
Following a smattering of half-time boos from the home contingent, the game transformed late on. Charalampos Kostoulas produced a wonderful jinking solo run, weaving his way past four men before sticking a weak effort into the hands of James Trafford, who then had to be at full stretch to turn a Malick Yalcouyé shot round the upright. Vuskovic’s headed goal came from Maxim De Cuyper’s corner, and suddenly Brighton were rampant.
Yasin Ayari curled an effort straight at Trafford, Promise David turned one over the bar, and Pascal Gross smashed too high when gifted a prime opportunity from six yards out. That they only scored once was a source of amazement. What might have been; what should have been.
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