Baleba rocket saves the day for Brighton – Brighton 3-2 West Ham REPORT

Carlos Baleba scores last minute screamer to keep Brighton’s European hopes alive in 3-2 thriller against West Ham. Baleba’s strike from 35 yards out saw the Amex crowd erupt. Brajan Gruda passed the ball into Baleba who took a touch before thundering his shot past all the West Ham bodies and into the left corner.…

INMR

April 26, 2025

2–3 minutes

2024/25, Brighton, Carlos Baleba, Fabian Hurzeler, football, Match Report, Matchday 34, PL, Prem highlights, Premier League, Premier League highlights, soccer, sports, West Ham

Carlos Baleba scores last minute screamer to keep Brighton’s European hopes alive in 3-2 thriller against West Ham.

Baleba’s strike from 35 yards out saw the Amex crowd erupt. Brajan Gruda passed the ball into Baleba who took a touch before thundering his shot past all the West Ham bodies and into the left corner.

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Brighton looked down and out after Tomas Soucek’s late diving header but managed to resurrect themselves right at the death.

Soucek’s diving header put West Ham 2-1 up in the 83rd minute. He met Jarrod Bowen’s whipping cross and looked to have won the match.

Kaoru Mitoma equalised in the 89th minute as substitutes combined to create the goal. Diego Gomez clipped a ball towards the back post, Brajan Gruda nodded the ball across goal where Mitoma was waiting to head home.

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Ayari broke the deadlock in the 13^th minute with a wonder goal from at least 25 yards out. Adingra started play down the right hand side before playing inside to Jack Hinshelwood who laid the ball off to Ayari.

The Swedish international’s super strike was his first for Brighton and the fans were sure to let former manager Graham Potter of the score.

Mo Kudus pulled West Ham back into the game minutes after the restart thanks to some brilliant play down the right wing from Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jarrod Bowen.

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Simon Adingra thought he doubled Brighton’s lead just before half time from close range but that goal was ruled out as Mats Wieffer strayed offside.

Wan-Bissaka carved the Brighton backline open with a delicate pass to Bowen who found Kudus at the back post. The Gambian international’s strike dribbled through Bart Verbruggen’s legs and into the bottom corner.

A horrible mistake from the Brighton keeper and that was his sixth error leading to a goal this season, more than any other player in the Premier League.

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Brighton struggled to get out of second gear after West Ham equalised but some late individual quality from Carlos Baleba sees them go ninth on 51 points. West Ham remain 17th on 36 points.

Fulham are only ahead of Brighton on goal difference and Bournemouth play Manchester United tomorrow as the race for eighth spot continues.

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Written by Isabelle Newnham