Brighton 1-0 Aston Villa: Late Joao Pedro strike hits Aston Villa’s top-four hopes
Joao Pedro struck a late winner as Brighton put a dent in Aston Villa’s Champions League hopes at the Amex Stadium.
The Brazilian headed home a rebound in the 87th minute after his penalty was saved by Robin Olsen.
Pascal Gross had an earlier effort for the hosts ruled out for offside by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), while Villa captain John McGinn was also judged to be inches ahead of the Brighton defence before scoring at the other end.
Unai Emery’s fourth-placed side remain seven points clear of Tottenham, who have two games in hand and visit Liverpool on Sunday.
Having suffered a disappointing loss to Olympiakos in the Europa Conference League on Thursday night, Villa missed the chance to strengthen their hold on fourth place with two matches left.
They were sluggish throughout and Brighton looked to have taken a deserved lead in the 68th minute when Gross met a Pedro cross with a clever finish, but VAR ruined his celebrations.
The Seagulls had found Villa keeper Olsen – replacing the injured Emi Martinez – in fine form, but kept pressing.
When winger Simon Adingra went to ground in the box under a challenge from Ezri Konsa, referee Robert Jones pointed to the spot.
It was almost in keeping with the game that Pedro had his penalty pushed away by Olsen, but the striker was sharp enough to nod home the rebound.
Roberto de Zerbi’s side moved up to 11th in the table after ending a disappointing run of no wins in six games and their first at home against Villa since 1980.
More to follow.
Player of the match
GilmourBilly Gilmour
Brighton & Hove Albion
Squad number11Player nameGilmour
Squad number9Player nameJoão Pedro
Squad number24Player nameAdingra
Squad number5Player nameDunk
Squad number19Player nameBarco
Squad number13Player nameGroß
Squad number18Player nameWelbeck
Squad number15Player nameModer
Squad number1Player nameVerbruggen
Squad number4Player nameWebster
Squad number40Player nameBuonanotte
Squad number10Player nameEnciso
Squad number34Player nameVeltman
Squad number20Player nameBaleba
Squad number3Player nameIgor Julio
Aston Villa
Squad number7Player nameMcGinn
Squad number25Player nameOlsen
Squad number11Player nameWatkins
Squad number2Player nameCash
Squad number31Player nameBailey
Squad number27Player nameRogers
Squad number6Player nameDouglas Luiz
Squad number14Player nameP Torres
Squad number19Player nameDiaby
Squad number12Player nameDigne
Squad number3Player nameDiego Carlos
Squad number4Player nameKonsa
Squad number24Player nameDurán
Squad number15Player nameÁlex Moreno
Squad number16Player nameChambers
Line-ups
Brighton
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Verbruggen34Veltman4Webster5Dunk3dos Santos de Paulo13GroßBooked at 49mins11GilmourSubstituted forBalebaat 88’minutes40BuonanotteSubstituted forEncisoat 61’minutes9João Pedro24AdingraBooked at 63minsSubstituted forBarcoat 90+3’minutes18WelbeckSubstituted forModerat 88’minutesSubstitutes10Enciso15Moder19Barco20Baleba23Steele31Ansu Fati42Offiah44Peupion55O’Mahony
Aston Villa
Formation 4-2-3-1
25Olsen4KonsaSubstituted forChambersat 90’minutes3Diego Carlos14P Torres12DigneSubstituted forMorenoat 90’minutes7McGinn6Douglas Luiz31Bailey27RogersSubstituted forCashat 26’minutesBooked at 90mins19DiabySubstituted forDuránat 73’minutes11WatkinsSubstitutes2Cash15Moreno16Chambers17Lenglet18Gauci24Durán29Kesler-Hayden47Iroegbunam71Kellyman
Referee:Robert Jones
Attendance:31,596
Live Text
Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Aston Villa 0.
Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Aston Villa 0.
Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Diego Carlos.
Matty Cash (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Valentín Barco (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Matty Cash (Aston Villa).
Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Igor Julio.
Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. João Pedro is caught offside.
Hand ball by Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa).
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Valentín Barco replaces Simon Adingra.
Foul by Pascal Groß (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Leon Bailey (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Pau Torres.
Attempt blocked. Julio Enciso (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Simon Adingra.
Substitution, Aston Villa. Álex Moreno replaces Lucas Digne.
Substitution, Aston Villa. Calum Chambers replaces Ezri Konsa.
Simon Adingra (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa).
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Carlos Baleba replaces Billy Gilmour.
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Jakub Moder replaces Danny Welbeck.
AUTHOR:
All copyrights for this article, including images, are reserved to the original source and/or creator(s).
Advertisement