Georginio Rutter struck in the 95th minute to deny Tottenham a dramatic home win, levelling the game 2-2 and leaving Roberto De Zerbi’s side mired in the relegation zone. Xavi Simons had appeared to have handed Spurs a breakthrough with a superb curled goal, but Brighton responded deep into stoppage time when Jan Paul van Hecke robbed Tottenham defender Kevin Danso in the box and laid the ball on for Rutter to smash home.
The draw leaves Spurs a point behind West Ham and vulnerable to slipping further down the table; Nottingham Forest could stretch their gap over Tottenham to five points with a win over Burnley. Brighton’s late snatch rescued a result that will feel like a blow to the home supporters.
Spurs had gone closest earlier after a nervy spell in which Micky van de Ven, under pressure from Danny Welbeck, rattled the post. Tottenham eventually took the lead on 39 minutes when Pedro Porro met Xavi Simons’ floated pass with a header — the right-back’s first Premier League goal in 50 appearances. Spurs then had opportunities to extend their lead: Simons struck the post and goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen tipped Porro’s follow-up over the bar.
Brighton drew level in first-half stoppage time when Pascal Gross released Kaoru Mitoma, whose exquisite volley beat the Spurs keeper. The second half saw Tottenham press for a winner, with Conor Gallagher and Joao Palhinha coming close. Late in the match Simons produced a release that appeared to swing momentum fully back to Spurs; he celebrated passionately, removing his shirt, only for Danso’s late lapse to allow Rutter his dramatic finish.
Jan Paul van Hecke was named Player of the Match. Selected player ratings: Tottenham — Porro 7, Simons 7, Van de Ven 7; Brighton — Van Hecke 8, Verbruggen 7, Rutter 8.
Team news: Spurs made four changes from the Sunderland defeat, bringing in Xavi Simons, Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma and Kevin Danso (who replaced the injured Cristian Romero). Brighton named an unchanged XI from the side that beat Burnley.
After the match De Zerbi told Sky Sports: ‘I am sorry for the result and players because they are suffering too much and we deserved to win the game against a great Brighton… I am positive, but I am proud of my players because they played a fantastic game full of character… We have to be stronger than this result, we have to move on and prepare the next game against Wolverhampton and to try to win the game.’
Sky Sports’ Michael Dawson added: ‘It is a massive disappointment… to take the lead twice and then gift Brighton the two goals… one mistake from Danso, who switches off in the final moment of the game… this will feel like a huge two points dropped.’
Stats and context: Tottenham remain the only Premier League side without a win in 2026 (0 wins from 15 games: D6 L9). They have now failed to win each of their last five Premier League matches in which they led (D3 L2), their longest such run since December 2023.
What’s next: Spurs travel to bottom club Wolves next Saturday (3pm kick-off). Brighton host Chelsea on Tuesday (8pm).