Brighton produced a superb fightback to come from two goals down and beat Tottenham in a Premier League thriller on the south coast.
Spurs looked to be heading to a sixth successive victory in all competitions as they deservedly led 2-0 after 37 minutes.
Brennan Johnson opened the scoring with his sixth goal in six games when he timed his run perfectly to run on to Dominic Solanke’s through ball before slotting past Bart Verbruggen.
The home goalkeeper should have done better with a curled shot from James Maddison as he got two hands to the low strike, but could not keep the ball out as Spurs doubled their lead.
But Brighton were a side transformed after the break.
They pulled one back early in the second half, when Destiny Udogie was unable to clear the ball from Kaoru Mitoma’s cross and Yankuba Minteh capitalised to grab his first goal for the Seagulls following his £30m move from Newcastle.
The impressive Mitoma was again involved as the hosts equalised in the 58th minute, passing to Georginio Rutter, who twisted to create space away from Micky van de Ven and then shoot low past Guglielmo Vicario.
Rutter then did excellently to not give up, slide in near the byeline to get a cross in, which Danny Welbeck converted with a downward header to score what proved to be the winner.
‘A terrible loss – as bad as it gets’
Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou seemed shocked at the final whistle, unable to comprehend how his side had managed to lose a match they had complete control of.
“It’s a terrible loss for us – as bad as it gets,” said the Australian.
Tottenham made a superb start and should have scored inside the opening 60 seconds when Timo Werner raced clear down the left but overhit the cross for Johnson and the chance was wasted.
A goal always looked on the cards, and only a great block from Adam Webster, who later went off with a hamstring injury, denied Maddison.
Tottenham thought they had scored when the ball bounced off Maddison and crossed the line, only for a tight video assistant referee (VAR) decision to rule Pedro Porro was offside earlier in the move.
Brighton conceded seconds later though, losing possession before Solanke – named in the England squad on Thursday for his first call-up in seven years – sent a perfectly weighted ball through the defence for Johnson to hit a first-time finish past Verbruggen.
Danny Welbeck, in a central position, had a good chance to equalise but slid the ball just past the post before Spurs doubled their lead with the game looking finished.
