Van Hecke Secures Draw for Brighton Following Verbruggen's Costly Error Versus Wolverhampton Wanderers

Jørgen Strand Larsen, after being a big-money transfer fall through recently, appeared angrily arguing with Wolves' coaching staff at full-time. This came after his second-half substitution, shortly after he struck the woodwork with Wolves leading thanks to Bart Verbruggen's unfortunate deflection. Brighton pushed for a last-gasp leveler, which finally arrived through Jan Paul van Hecke.

Wolves Frustrated Again by Late Strike

For the second straight match, Wolves' attempt to get their season underway was stymied by a last-ditch equaliser. The Wolves manager had been dismissed shortly prior to the top flight's last-placed team took the lead, after a Munetsi shot came back from the crossbar and in off the Brighton goalkeeper.

Fabian Hürzeler's side earned a point for their second-half control, but Wolves, in their second game in a row following their draw at Spurs, looked as if they were going to hang on for a first league win of the campaign before conceding a late equaliser.

Game Turns with Drama

Strand Larsen looked Wolves' most likely source for a crucial second goal, and the home team looked less able to get out with Arias leading the attack. The game burst into life in the heart of the first half.

Pereira was incensed at Jarred Gillett's decision not to give a free-kick when João Gomes was jostled by Carlos Baleba in the middle in the opposition half. Then, after the referee booked Baleba for an entirely clearer infraction on Bueno, the dismissal was shown to the coach for kicking a replacement ball off a cone at the officials' technical area. Even though he promptly said sorry, it was evidently a dangerous action. The tension had been ignited.

After a deep free-kick into the visitors' area was nodded back into the danger area, Welbeck only managed to clear the ball out as far as Munetsi, on the right side of the penalty spot, who unleashed a true hammer of a shot goalwards. Although Verbruggen managed to deflect the ball onto the underside of the bar, it rebounded back and across the line off the goalkeeper's glove.

One almost turned into two, only for Verbruggen to very deliberately tip Krejci's headed effort, from a further long diagonal set-piece, to safety. Brighton, with their very strong history at their ground – they had taken victory in their four matches here – and a positive start to the season as well, counterattacked with occasional threat.

After the Break Drama

When Tchatatchoua underpowered a back-pass, Gruda was entitled to contest Johnstone for the ball, although he made contact with the Wolves goalkeeper with his challenge. After a niggly period, the importance of the next goal became more obvious. It almost fell Wolves' favor, soon in the second period, only for Arias to sidefoot over the bar from close range after a excellent break led by Larsen, after he allowed Hwang Hee-chan to set up the advancing Hugo Bueno to deliver into the box.

Brighton, a little slow in the opening 45, looked stronger for the introducing of Rutter and, from Minteh's left-side cross, the replacement could barely have caught his half-volley any more perfectly.

The Wolves keeper, however, justifying his selection in goal ahead of José Sá, leapt back to his right to deny him. Hürzeler had previously asked Yasin Ayari to man the back of his midfield on his own, resulting in Brighton to more territorial control, when he introduced the forward Stefanos Tzimas to partner Welbeck in the frontline, with Diego Gómez just in support of them.

Late Twist as Defender Strikes

The Seagulls have notched more goals against Wolves than against any other team in the top division. But Wolves were determined to hang on to what they held and so came close to sealing the match away when Strand Larsen fired against the foot of the upright. The Norway striker, yet to regain full fitness after an achilles injury, appeared far from happy when he was taken off moments later as the assistant, Pereira's assistant, looked to shore up the victory. The move backfired however as Brighton equalised with four minutes remaining.

Wolves felt the ball had already gone behind for a goal-kick when Tchatatchoua ensured by nudging it on. From Minteh's near-post corner, De Cuyper crossed and, after the substitute got a small flick-on, Van Hecke thudded home only his second ever goal in 77 league appearances for the team.