Mitch Freeley

Brighton produced a gutsy display coming from behind on two occasions to register a 2-2 draw with Stoke on Monday evening at the Amex stadium.

Mark Hughes side took the lead through Cameroon striker Eric Choupo-Moting, before being pegged back by Pascal Groß on the stroke of half-time. A minute later the potters had the lead again through Kurt Zuma, however, Chris Hughtons side battled back grabbing a deserved equalizer on the hour mark through summer signing José Izquierdo. 

Both sides had good chances to open the scoring in the early exchanges. Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross saw his snap header just tipped over by Mathew Ryan. Whilst  Brighton winger José Izquierdo having the best chance of the quarter hour mark, beating the Stoke offside trap the Columbian showed a real turn of pace to beat the evading defender, however, his curling shot flew just wide. 

Stoke battled well in the first half, and their efforts were rewarded thanks to an inch-perfect long ball from Shaqiri found Choupo-Moting who killed the ball with a deft first touch before dispatching the ball into the bottom right-hand corner with 28 minutes on the clock. Chris Hughton’s side perhaps should have had a penalty when Glen Murray was swiped down by Shawcross, however, their claims were promptly waved away by referee Lee Mason. 

Brighton was aggrieved by the decision and the tackles started to fly in, Murray picked up the first yellow of the tie after a late tackle of Kevin Wimmer. 

With just a minute left in the first half, Brighton’s persistence paid off when Davy Pröpper set off on a mazy run, with the Dutch defender riding four Stoke challenges before picking out Pascal Groß who drilled the ball past Lee Grant for his third goal of the season. 

Stoke didn’t waste any time in giving themselves the lead and struck again a minute later. A corner was nodded down by Choupo-Moting, into the path of Kurt Zuma. The French defender made no mistake from close range, heading Stoke into the lead on the stroke of halftime. 

After the break, Brighton took the initiative and pressured Stoke with long balls with Glen Murray threatening in the air. On the hour mark, the Seagulls found a goal to square the tie at 2-2.  A lofted ball from Dale Stephens fell to Murray who smartly passed to Izquierdo, his initial shot rebounded back to him and at the second time of asking curled the ball into the net for a deserved leveller.