Brighton and Hove Albion vs Leicester City. Premier League.
Amex StadiumAttendance31,330.
Brighton and Hove Albion 2
- J Pedro (31st minute pen, 55th minute pen)
Leicester City 2
- S Mavididi (38th minute)
- M Okoli (74th minute)
Brighton 2-2 Leicester City: Ruud van Nistelrooy's side end goal drought with spirited draw
Report and free match highlights as Ruud van Nistelrooy's side show some fight to come from behind twice to end losing run; Brighton's hopes of a European finish dented further
Saturday 12 April 2025 20:22, UK
Leicester City scored their first Premier League goal for 13 hours as they broke their eight-game losing run with a spirited 2-2 draw at Brighton.
It looked to be another miserable afternoon for the Foxes when Joao Pedro netted the opener from the spot after Conor Coady's handball was spotted by VAR. However, Stephy Mavididi sparked Leicester into action and levelled before the break to end their run of eight Premier League games without a goal.
Brighton, who were booed off by some sections of the home faithful at full-time, did edge back in front from another Pedro penalty - again awarded by VAR - but Caleb Okoli headed Leicester level.
The result only delays the inevitability of relegation for the Foxes as they are 14 points from safety, but this was a more spirited performance.
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For Brighton this was another lacklustre performance at home against a newly-promoted side - they will end the season having not beaten Ipswich, Southampton or Leicester at home.
The ninth-placed Seagulls, whose pursuit of European qualification suffered another setback following successive defeats, paid a heavy price for failing to capitalise on a host of other chances and could easily have lost when Bilal El Khannouss curled against the woodwork three minutes from time.
Mavididi sparks Leicester
Sky Sports' Lewis Jones:
Ruud van Nistelrooy has got many things wrong as Leicester manager but perhaps the biggest mistake has been the lack of gametime for Stephy Mavididi. Based on his performance at Brighton, Van Nistelrooy should not only be picking him but building his entire team around this stylish and dangerous winger.
During Leicester's dismal eight game losing run without scoring, Mavididi played just 148 minutes as Van Nistelrooy deemed the likes of Jordan Ayew and Patson Daka more deserving a spot in his team. However, the winger was given his chance at Brighton - his first start since January - and took it with both hands, turning in a player of the match performance as Leicester showed more bite and attacking intent to bag a point at the Amex.
He led the way for Brighton for shots (4), touches in the opposition box (7), dribbles (5) and got the goal that ended their 13-hour run without finding the net.
Brighton's flaky finishing holds them back
Sky Sports' Lewis Jones:
Brighton's lack of guile and ruthlessness came to the surface yet again against a team they were expected to beat comfortably.
Leicester rocked up on the south coast having lost eight in a row without scoring. Yet Brighton couldn't put them away.
Fabian Hurzeler's team are now winless in five home matches with Southampton, Ipswich, Wolves, Everton and Leicester this season, scoring just five goals. And you can add a 2-2 in this reverse fixture at the King Power as another piece of evidence regarding Brighton's failings when carrying the favourites tag.
They created enough to win three games against the Foxes. The expected goals return of 4.04 was their highest xG return of the season and the seventh highest posted by any Premier League team this campaign. Matt O'Riley squandered 0.85 worth of that, being unable to match the threat of his dangerous runs into the box with his finishing.
Until Brighton start becoming more efficient in front of goal, any hopes of returning to the European scene remain unlikely.
