Aston Villa edges out Brighton in thrilling 4-3 victory
Ollie Watkins ended an 11-game goal drought with a first-half brace as high-flying Aston Villa overturned a two-goal deficit to beat Brighton 4-3 at the Amex Stadium, reports BritPanorama.
Brighton initially took control of the match with Jan Paul van Hecke’s close-range finish followed by an own goal from Pau Torres, setting the Seagulls on course to leapfrog Villa in the Premier League standings.
Watkins, who had managed only one goal in 19 appearances this season prior to this match, scored his ninth and tenth career goals against Brighton. He found the net to halve the deficit in the 37th minute after a low cross from Ian Maatsen. Amadou Onana and substitute Donyell Malen later contributed to Villa’s remarkable turnaround.
Van Hecke’s second goal for the evening in the 83rd minute introduced tension into the closing stages, but Villa held firm for an eighth victory in nine league outings, marking Brighton’s first home defeat of the season.
In goal for Villa, Marco Bizot made his debut, replacing Emiliano Martinez, who withdrew in the warm-up. Lewis Dunk celebrated his 500th appearance for Brighton in a side featuring three changes. Brighton’s opening goal came in controversial fashion; Villa’s stand-in keeper Bizot misjudged a corner awarded after a dubious decision, allowing Van Hecke to score.
Having gone 10 home games unbeaten since their last defeat to Villa in April, Brighton doubled their lead shortly after, only for Watkins to pull one back minutes later. Villa capitalised on a swift counter-attack to equalise just before half-time and took control of the second half.
The visitors executed an effective strategy on the pitch, leading to Onana’s goal from a corner and Malen’s rebound effort with just 12 minutes left on the clock. Although Van Hecke’s late goal added pressure, Villa managed to secure the win, demonstrating their resilience as they continue their strong season.
This match serves as a reminder of the ever-competitive nature of the Premier League, as teams fight for standing, showcasing both talent and determination.
