Brighton 2 Fulham 1: Pedro’s 98th-minute penalty boosts Seagulls’ Euro hopes

BRIGHTON nicked victory with a controversial 98th-minute penalty.

Harrison Reed fouled Joao Pedro, VAR awarding a spot-kick that the same Seagulls midfielder tucked in

Raul Jimenez’s thumping opener for Fulham was cancelled out by Jan Paul van Hecke’s brilliant header just before the interval.

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Jan Paul van Hecke hails his equaliser[/caption]

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Jan Paul van Hecke levels for Brighton just before the break[/caption]

Brighton sneaked ahead with a brilliant counter-attack on 35 minutes.

Alex Iwobi surged away from Pervis Estupinan on the right and picked out Jimenez superbly with his centre.

The striker chested the ball down and smashed it inside the near post beyond home keeper Bart Verbruggen.

But Brighton deservedly levelled in a cracking contest just before the interval.

Helped by woeful marking, Paul van Hecke emerged to nod home off the post.

Joao Pedro then sliced a clear chance wide for the Seagulls early in the second period.

But Iwobi went close to a Cottagers’ winner late on with a deflected shot.

And witht he Seagulls having two second-half goals ruled out, Brightion stole it from virtually the last kick.

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Brighton chief Fabian Hurzeler made changes during the Prem clash[/caption]

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Raul Jimenez takes the plaudits after his Fulham opener[/caption]

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Fulham chief Marco Silva watches on during a tight first half[/caption]

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Local boxer Harlem Eubank shows off the IBF intercontinental welterweight title he won against Tyrone McKenna at the Brighton Centre on Friday.[/caption]

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Raul Jimenez slid Fulham in front on 35 minutes[/caption]