Tottenham’s Champions League aspirations suffered a severe blow on Thursday night, as they were comprehensively outplayed and defeated 4-2 by Brighton at the Amex Stadium. Despite late goals from Alejo Véliz and Ben Davies, Spurs were second-best throughout the encounter, their defensive frailties ruthlessly exposed by a Brighton side missing up to 10 players through injury.
From the opening whistle, the Seagulls carved open the Tottenham defence, which missed its injured centre-backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven. Jack Hinshelwood and Joao Pedro (via a penalty) put Brighton two goals ahead by the 23rd minute, with James Milner even hitting the post before halftime. Tottenham struggled to create clear chances of their own, with Richarlison hitting the post and having a goal ruled out for offside.
The second half brought more misery for the Spurs. Pervis Estupinan unleashed a stunning 25-yard effort into the top corner, and Joao Pedro converted another penalty after Evan Ferguson was fouled by Giovani Lo Celso. The game seemed beyond reach for Tottenham, but a late fightback materialised. Véliz netted his first Premier League goal, and Davies headed in four minutes later to set up a tense finale. Despite further chances, Tottenham couldn’t find the equaliser, leaving them to rue a performance that damaged their top-four ambitions.
Brighton, meanwhile, celebrated their first victory over Tottenham in 10 years and extended their unbeaten Premier League run at the Amex Stadium to eight games, equaling their club record. Joao Pedro emerged as the hero with two goals and an assist, while Estupinan’s wonder strike will be a contender for goal of the season.
For Tottenham, the inquest will begin immediately. Defensive lapses cost them dearly, and their inability to break down a depleted Brighton side raises questions about their attacking potency. This defeat leaves them fifth in the table, six points behind Brighton, who climb to eighth with their impressive performance.
Tottenham will look to bounce back when they host Bournemouth on Sunday, while Brighton travels to West Ham on Tuesday. The race for the top four is heating up, and both teams have shown they are capable of competing at the top end of the Premier League. However, Brighton’s resilience and Spurs’ defensive woes suggest that the Seagulls may be the team on the rise, while Tottenham’s Champions League dreams face a serious challenge after this disappointing setback.
