A breathtaking overhead kick from Charalampos Kostoulas in stoppage time earned Brighton a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth at the American Express Stadium, denying the visitors a Premier League victory that
had seemed secure after Marcus Tavernier’s first-half penalty.
The equaliser arrived at the start of 10 added minutes, when Jan Paul van Hecke headed a high ball into the area and Kostoulas controlled it on the chest before sending an acrobatic strike past Djordje Petrovic into the left corner, rewarding Brighton’s sustained second-half pressure.
What. A. Goal. pic.twitter.com/lrQRAP0SBN Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) January 19, 2026
Bournemouth had earlier taken control in the 32nd minute, during their first Premier League match since Antoine Semenyo joined Manchester City, when Amine Adli, starting in Semenyo’s role, went down under Bart Verbruggen’s challenge and was initially booked for diving before referee Paul Tierney changed the yellow card to a penalty after a VAR review, allowing Tavernier to convert from the spot.
Brighton, managed by Fabian Hurzeler, reacted with frustration to the overturned decision yet created opportunities either side of the incident, with Jack Hinshelwood twice going close before half-time, and after the interval Brighton dominated the ball but lacked precision in front of goal, as Bournemouth defended deep and looked ready to protect Tavernier’s strike until Kostoulas intervened.
Kostoulas continued a recurring theme for Brighton, who have repeatedly relied on players introduced from the bench, as the forward’s late intervention became the ninth goal scored by a Brighton substitute in this Premier League season, the highest total among top-flight teams and further evidence of the depth within Roberto De Zerbi’s squad options.
The numbers underlined Brighton’s territorial control, with the hosts registering 17 shots compared with Bournemouth’s 12 and forcing Petrovic into five saves from efforts on target, while Bournemouth produced only two accurate attempts, yet Opta’s expected goals model still favoured the visitors by 1.33 to 1.05, largely driven by the high-value penalty opportunity.
| Team | Goals | Shots | Shots on target | Expected goals (xG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton | 1 | 17 | 5 | 1.05 |
| Bournemouth | 1 | 12 | 2 | 1.33 |
Although Bournemouth edged the expected goals totals, most of that figure came from Tavernier’s successful kick, so Brighton, who produced more attempts and applied heavier pressure after the break, are likely to regard the draw as the least they merited, whereas Bournemouth may feel a crucial away win slipped away in the final moments.
Tavernier’s composed finish from the spot continued a productive campaign, taking the attacker to six goals in all competitions for Bournemouth this season, which is already a personal best single-season tally after previous totals of five goals in both the 2021-22 and 2022-23 campaigns.
The penalty also added another entry to Brighton’s record from 12 yards, as it became the 55th spot-kick faced by Brighton in Premier League action, with 48 of those converted, and both figures are higher than for any other club in the competition since Brighton’s top-flight debut in the 2017-18 season.
The match closed with both teams earning a point, Brighton salvaging a result through late quality from Kostoulas after long spells of possession, and Bournemouth missing the chance to mark the post-Semenyo period with a statement victory, while individual milestones for Tavernier and Brighton’s penalty statistics added further context to a tense 1-1 draw.
