West Brom 1-2 Brighton (AET): Brighton through to FA Cup fourth round

West Brom 1-2 Brighton (AET): Visitors through to FA Cup fourth round with a hard-fought win, as Neal Maupay’s extra-time goal helps Graham Potter’s side to victory against 10-man hosts

  • Callum Robinson handed the hosts the lead after finishing off a counter-attack 
  • West Brom played the final stages with 10 men after Cedric Kipre’s sending off 
  • Brighton midfielder Jakub Moder made it 1-1, with the tie going to extra-time
  • Neal Maupay secured the win, as the Seagulls progressed to the fourth round

Breaking point was found, at last. Ninety-eight minutes in and hammering on a door manned by only 10, Brighton would not be denied any longer.

Jakub Moder, the game’s best player despite missing its first two thirds, burst free down the right. He fired the ball towards Leandro Trossard, who saw team-mate Neal Maupay in his rear-view mirror and let the ball run. Maupay swung a leg, broke the resistance and sent Graham Potter’s side into the fourth round.

‘It was important for us to go through today,’ said Potter. ‘As you can see from the results in this competition, it’s not straightforward.’

Callum Robinson (R) netted the opening goal of the tie, flicking home after a counter-attack

Midfielder Jakub Moder struck the equaliser to set up a grandstand finish at the Hawthorns

Robinson was able to squeeze his finish beyond Kjell Scherpen and the covering Dan Burn

That West Brom had got to the eighth minute of extra time was a testament to a brilliant display from goalkeeper David Button and a familiar story of Brighton’s wastefulness.

This latest chapter told of two missed one-on-ones, a collection of pot shots and a miss from Shane Duffy that would strain the imagination of most fairytales.

But the twist came via a helping hand from Cedric Kipre, whose two yellow cards in as many minutes midway through the second half proved too much to bear for a West Brom side already hampered by injuries and suspensions.

Debutant Odel Offiah slides in with a tackle during the clash between West Brom and Brighton

The home supporters celebrated their side taking the lead against Premier League opposition

MATCH FACTS AND PLAYER RATINGS

WEST BROMWICH (3-4-3): Button 8; Kipre 5, Bartley 7, Townsend 6.5; Furlong 6, Gardner-Hickman 6 (Ashworth 67min, 6), Livermore 6, Reach 6; Robinson 7.5 (Taylor 79, 6), Phillips 6 (Diangana 64min, 6), Grant 7 (Fellows 79, 6)

Subs not used: Palmer, Ashworth, Taylor, Castro, Fellows, Tulloch, Hugill

Scorers: Robinson 47

Booked: Livermore, Kipre, Townsend, Reach

Sent off: Kipre

Manager: Valerien Ismael 6

BRIGHTON (3-5-2): Scherpen 6; Veltman 6 (Ferguson 76, 7), Duffy 6, Burn 5; Offiah 5 (Cucurella 55, 7), Gross 6, Mwepu 6 (Mac Allister 28, 5), Alzate 6 (MODER 76, 8.5), March 6; Welbeck 6 (Trossard 55, 6), Maupay 7

Subs not used: Sanchez, Turns, Roberts, Moder, Leonard, Ferguson

Scorers: Moder 81, Maupay 98

Booked: None

Manager: Graham Potter 7

Referee: Robert Jones 6

Attendance: 8,208

 

They had been warned in the first half, needing two excellent saves from their former Brighton ‘keeper Button to deny Danny Welbeck and Maupay when clean through. Welbeck had attempted a lob only to find Button’s shoulder, while Maupay went low and brought a one-handed save.

The profligacy was punished immediately after the break, as Matt Phillips’ flick-on caught Dan Burn flat-footed and Karlan Grant burst into the box before squaring to Robinson.

The Irishman was confronted by the 6ft 8in frame of onrushing debutant Kjell Scherpen, but kept his composure to poke in the opener from six yards.

Valerien Ismael’s side were good value for their lead, but in minutes 68 and 69 Kipre clattered into Maupay and Trossard respectively and was sent on his way.

‘Up to the red card we played perfectly against a strong side,’ said Ismael. ‘The red was the game-changer. It’s the same story week in week out – we’re on top, have the possibility to change the game and we punish ourselves.’

Neal Maupay’s extra-time winner helped Brighton progress to the fourth round of the FA Cup

Former Ajax goalkeeper Scherpen made his debut for the away side between the sticks

But West Brom’s cause took a major blow when Cedric Kipre (R) was shown two yellow cards

Within seconds the extra man was telling, as a free-kick was whipped onto the right foot of the unmarked Shane Duffy on the six-yard line. 

But the centre back was probably wishing it had been at head height shortly afterwards, as he stuck out a boot and saw the ball spoon over the bar.

Potter, who had made seven changes to rest a side pushing for a top half place in the Premier League, brought on Moder and 17-year-old Ewan Ferguson.

Five minutes after lining up on the touchline together, they were meeting again in celebration. 

Ferguson diverted a pass into Moder’s path and the Pole smashed the ball past Button. With the equaliser, West Brom’s 10 tired men were forced into something they could not afford – 30 more minutes. Maupay only needed eight.

Brighton manager Graham Potter was delighted with the fightback from his players 

Match winner Maupay shares a moment with West Brom goalkeeper David Button at the end




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