Sharalampos Kostoulas scored a stunning overhead kick in the closing stages of Brighton’s game against Bournemouth at the Amex Stadium, securing a 1-1 draw.
As the clock ticked down in the first minute of stoppage time, the 18-year-old forward chested the ball down before acrobatically guiding it into the top corner. It’s an effort to justify the £30m Brighton parted with to sign him from Olympiakos just over a year ago.
Charampos Kostoulas celebrates eye-catching equalizer between Brighton and Bournemouth
Brighton will feel their equalizer was justified, despite the unusual manner, given their dominance in the second half and the controversial manner in which Bournemouth’s opener was scored.
The Cherries looked dominant in the first half, taking the lead through Marcus Tavernier, but another controversial VAR decision put things in doubt.
According to Premier League Match Center, referee Paul Tierney initially booked a simulation on Amin Adli after he rounded Bad Verbruggen and dropped into the area, but a VAR review determined the challenge was sufficient to constitute “foul contact” and the decision was overturned and the card rescinded.
Tavernier converted his spot-kick into the bottom left corner, but the visitors then fell back, resulting in them taking a further lead in the top flight.
No team has dropped more points from winning positions in the top flight so far this season (18), but Brighton have saved the third-most points when losing (15).
Sharing the spoils would leave both teams in 12th and 15th place in the table respectively, but Fabian Hürzeler may be the happier of the two managers given the second-half comeback and the quality of the equalizer.
Check out Kostoulas’ stunning late equalizer!
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Kostoulas scored a sensational overhead kick in the 90th minute for Brighton in the Premier League against Bournemouth.
Kostoulas: I always do overhead kicks during training!
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Charampos Kostoulas likes to score bicycle kicks, but Lewis Dunk admits he is scoring better goals in training.
Brighton goalscorer Sharalampos Kostouras speaks to Sky Sports:
“You’ve never seen it before, but I saw Lewis (Dunk) a lot in training! I really like this type of scoring.
“The result could be better for us. We really need the three points to help us for the rest of the season.”
Haseler reveals his feelings about Bournemouth penalty kicks
Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler told Sky Sports about Bournemouth’s penalty and his conversation with the referee:
“No (I didn’t agree with the penalty call). It’s difficult to tell the referees. I think they always have their own opinion.”
“It’s hard to have the conversation. That’s not the point. They made a decision and we don’t agree with it, but we have to accept it.”
“For me, this is not a penalty. A touch or contact is not enough. That’s what they told us before the season. That’s what we have to accept.”
Bournemouth’s Amin Adli initially reserved for simulation
Iraora: “Kostoulas’ goal was great”
Bournemouth manager Andoy Iraola told Sky Sports:
“I think we wanted to protect something in the second half, and I think we defended well.
“We are now at a moment in the season where everything is against us, we don’t have the slightest bit of luck. They scored an incredible goal, an overhead kick into the top corner.
“It’s a shame that we ended with one point. We’re going point by point. We have to keep going. We deserved three points, but then something happened and we ended up with one point.”
