EPL: West Ham Drop Points as Brighton Snatch Late Draw

Brighton stuns West Ham with late equalizer (1-1)

West Ham United's hopes of moving out of the relegation zone were dashed as Brighton & Hove Albion scored a late equalizer to secure a 1-1 draw.

Brighton had scored 17 second-half goals, the highest in the league, making them a force to be reckoned with in...

Brighton snatched a late draw against West Ham, with a stoppage-time equaliser securing a 1-1 result. The Hammers had dominated possession but struggled to break down Brighton's defense, and the Seagulls capitalized on a late opportunity.

The match was played in miserable weather conditions, with West Ham struggling to create clear chances. Brighton sat back and waited for counter-attacking opportunities, which they exploited late on to deny West Ham a win.

West Ham almost took the lead on the 15th minute when Crysencio Summerville's shot was smothered by Bart Verbruggen. The game was intense but scant on chances, with neither team able to find their rhythm, and the first half ended goalless. This was only the second time in 14 league games that Hoffenheim had been level at half-time.

Brighton had scored 17 second-half goals, the highest in the league, making them a force to be reckoned with in the latter stages of matches. Meanwhile, West Ham had conceded an average of two goals per game this season, so a second-half goal seemed likely.

The away side, West Ham, almost took the lead shortly after the restart, with Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen making a spectacular double save. Jarrod Bowen had shaken off defenders before firing at goal, but Verbruggen blocked the shot and quickly turned Summerville's rebound over the bar.

A late Georginio Rutter goal rescues a point for @OfficialBHAFC 🔵⚪ pic.twitter.com/aVo93fmvmr

— Premier League (@premierleague) December 7, 2025

Brighton had scored 17 second-half goals, the highest in the league, making them a force to be reckoned with in the latter stages of matches. Meanwhile, West Ham had conceded an average of two goals per game this season, so a second-half goal seemed likely.

The away side, West Ham, almost took the lead shortly after the restart, with Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen making a spectacular double save. Jarrod Bowen had shaken off defenders before firing at goal, but Verbruggen blocked the shot and quickly turned Summerville's rebound over the bar.

Fabian Hurzeler would have been disappointed by his side’s performance by the hour mark, especially as Alphonse Areola hadn’t had a save to make by 65 minutes.

The one-way action continued as the Hammers probed for the breakthrough, and it duly arrived in the 73rd minute after substitute Callum Wilson broke forward on the counter and slipped in Bowen, who slid the ball past Verbruggen and into the far corner from a tight angle.

Brighton pushed for an equalizer and, just like they've done many times this season, they scored in the second half - this time in stoppage time through Georginio Rutter. Rutter pounced on a goalmouth scramble to slam home the leveller, after Alphonse Areola had made a crucial save earlier.

The home side's persistence paid off in the 91st minute when Rutter fired home from close range, with VAR awarding the goal after a check for handball in the build-up. This late goal cancelled out Jarrod Bowen's stunning second-half strike for West Ham, leaving the score 1-1.

Nuno Espírito Santo's West Ham will be disappointed after missing the chance to move out of the relegation zone, while Brighton climbs to 7th, just 2 points off the top 4.