Van Hecke Saves Point for Brighton & Hove Albion Following Verbruggen's Costly Error Against Wolves

Jørgen Strand Larsen, who saw a big-money transfer fall through late in the window, was seen angrily confronting his team's coaching staff at full-time. It happened following his late substitution, shortly post he hit the woodwork with Wolves ahead thanks to Bart Verbruggen's own goal. Brighton pushed to get a late equaliser, which came through Jan Paul van Hecke.

Wolves Frustrated Once More by Late Strike

This marks the second successive match, Wolves' bid to get their season up and running was stymied by a last-ditch tying goal. The Wolves manager had been dismissed shortly prior to the top flight's bottom side went ahead, after Marshall Munetsi's shot rebounded off the bar and in off the Brighton goalkeeper.

Fabian Hürzeler's side earned a draw for their second-half control, but Wolves, in their second game in a row after their draw at Spurs, looked as if they were going to hold out for a maiden league win of the season before allowing a last-minute equaliser.

Game Turns with Drama

The striker looked Wolves' best bet for a decisive second goal, and the home team looked struggling to get out with Jhon Arias spearheading the attack. The match burst into action in the heart of the opening period.

The Wolves boss was incensed at Jarred Gillett's call not to award a set-piece when João Gomes was jostled by Baleba midway in the Brighton half. Then, following the referee cautioned Baleba for an entirely clearer foul on Hugo Bueno, the dismissal was shown to the coach for kicking a spare ball off a cone at the officials' technical area. Although he quickly apologised, it was clearly a reckless action. The tension had been lit.

After a long free-kick into the Brighton area was nodded back into the danger area, Danny Welbeck only managed to clear the ball out as far as Munetsi, on the right side of the penalty spot, who dispatched a true hammer of a shot toward goal. Even though Verbruggen managed to tip the ball onto the underside of the crossbar, it rebounded back and across the goal-line off the shot-stopper's glove.

A single goal almost became two, only for the Brighton keeper to calmly push Ladislav Krejci's headed effort, from another high angled free-kick, to safety. Brighton, with their deeply strong record at their ground – they had taken victory in their previous four previous games – and a good beginning to the season as well, broke forward with sporadic threat.

Second Half Drama

When Tchatatchoua underpowered a back-pass, Brajan Gruda was entitled to challenge Johnstone for the ball, though he made contact with the Wolves goalkeeper with his challenge. After a niggly period, the importance of the subsequent goal became more apparent. It almost fell Wolves' way, soon in the second half, only for Jhon Arias to sidefoot high from six yards after a excellent counterattack led by Larsen, after he allowed Hwang Hee-chan to set up the advancing Bueno to deliver into the box.

The away side, a little slow in the first half, looked stronger for the introduction of Rutter and, from Yankuba Minteh's left-side cross, the replacement could hardly have struck his half-volley any more perfectly.

The Wolves keeper, though, justifying his retention in goal over José Sá, dived back to his right to deny him. The Brighton coach had previously asked Ayari to patrol the base of his midfield on his by himself, resulting in Brighton to more possession dominance, when he brought on the forward Tzimas to join Welbeck in attack, with Diego Gómez just in support of them.

Final Drama as Defender Strikes

Brighton have notched more goals against Wolves than against every other team in the top division. But Wolves were determined to hold firm to what they held and so nearly sealing the game away when Larsen shot against the base of the upright. The Norway forward, still seeking full fitness after an Achilles injury, did not look impressed when he was withdrawn moments later as the assistant, Pereira's assistant, looked to secure the win. The move backfired however as Brighton equalised with 4 minutes left.

Wolves felt the ball had already gone behind for a goal kick when Tchatatchoua made sure by nudging it on. From Minteh's short set-piece, De Cuyper crossed and, after the substitute got a small flick-on, the defender thudded home only his second goal in 77 league games for the team.