Joao Pedro scored a stoppage-time penalty to secure a 2-1 victory for Brighton & Hove Albion over Fulham at the Amex Stadium, strengthening their bid for a Champions League place. The Brazilian forward won the penalty himself, beating Harrison Reed to the ball and drawing a foul, before calmly converting from the spot.
The late winner marked Pedro’s third consecutive Premier League game with a goal, a first for him in the competition. It also capped a comeback after Raul Jimenez had given Fulham the lead with a well-taken volley, showcasing neat chest control at the far post.
Brighton equalized six minutes later through Jan Paul van Hecke, who headed home Yasin Ayari’s free-kick, finding himself with too much space.
Both teams had played 120 minutes in FA Cup victories on Sunday (Brighton against Newcastle, Fulham against Manchester United), and fatigue may have contributed to a largely uneventful first half. Brighton showed improvement in the second half, having two goals disallowed for offside before Pedro’s decisive penalty.
Brighton’s Resurgence Continues
The victory lifts Brighton to sixth in the Premier League table, just one point behind fourth-placed Manchester City, who occupy the final guaranteed Champions League spot. Fulham, who had been unbeaten in their previous nine encounters with Brighton, remain in ninth place, four points further back.
Brighton’s recent form has been impressive. Since a 7-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest on February 1st, they have won six consecutive matches across all competitions, reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals and establishing themselves as serious contenders for a Champions League place. They have lost only twice in their last 15 matches in all competitions. This is the first time since 1981 they won four successive top flight matches.
The club is also in a strong financial position, having announced a post-tax profit of £42.9m for the 2023-24 season in February.
Before the match, Brighton-based boxer Harlem Eubank was presented to the crowd with his IBF intercontinental welterweight title, which he won on Friday. Brighton showed resilience and a attacking spirit. Pedro showed his quality again.
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