Full TimePosted at 90’+5′ Second Half ends, Bournemouth 0, Brighton and Hove Albion 2.Post updateSubstitutionPosted at 90+3′ Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Riku Undav replaces Kairo Mitoma.Post updateBookingPosted at 90′ Adam Smith (Bournemouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.Post updateSubstitutionPosted at 85′ Substitution, Bournemouth. Jack Stacey replaces Jefferson Lerma.Post updateSubstitutionPosted at 85′ Substitution, Bournemouth. Dominic Solanke replaces Philip Billing.Post updateSubstitutionPosted at 85′ Substitution, Bournemouth. Lewis Cook replaces Arnaut Danjuma Groeneveld.Post updateSubstitutionPosted at 85′ Substitution, Bournemouth. Ilya Zabarnyi replaces Steve Cook.Post updateSubstitutionPosted at 80′ Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Steven Alzate replaces Moises Caicedo.
Brighton and Hove Albion boosted their hopes of Champions League football with a 2-0 victory over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. The Seagulls moved four points off fourth-placed Tottenham with two games in hand thanks to an outstanding goal from teenager Evan Ferguson and a late strike from Julio Enciso.
Ferguson opened the scoring after 28 minutes with a superb flick of his left heel to turn home a low cross from Kairo Mitoma. The 18-year-old Irish striker has been in impressive form this season and his latest demonstration that he is the real deal will only increase the buzz around him. Mitoma has now been directly involved in 11 goals in his last 15 league appearances, scoring seven and creating four.
Brighton received a blow to their European hopes when midfielder Moises Caicedo was forced off injured in the second half after landing awkwardly on his ankle. He was replaced by Steven Alzate.
Roberto de Zerbi’s side have lost just one of their past 11 Premier League matches and are unbeaten away from home since October. They will travel to Spurs on Saturday, knowing another victory on the road could be huge in their pursuit of Champions League football.
Enciso sealed the three points for Brighton in second-half stoppage time after Pascal Gross’ fine pass to slot home from six yards out. Bournemouth meanwhile fall back into the bottom three, one of four sides on 27 points in the Premier League, but sit 18th below West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Everton on goal difference.
With now just one defeat in 15 games across all competitions in 2023, Brighton simply cannot be counted out of the top-four race. Their impressive form has seen them become genuine contenders for Champions League football this season and they will be looking to continue their unlikely tilt when they face Spurs on Saturday.