Everton leave it late again as Beto delivers
Everton snatched a point in the most dramatic fashion on the south coast as substitute Beto forced home a 97th-minute equaliser to deny Brighton & Hove Albion and preserve the Toffees’ impressive recent run at the Amex Stadium.
David Moyes’ reaction told the story. The Everton boss, usually measured on the touchline, burst into a full sprint towards the travelling support the moment the ball crossed the line, celebrating a goal that felt equal parts grit, chaos and belief.
Brighton waste early dominance
Brighton looked the more polished side for long spells and should have been further ahead after a first half packed with opportunities. Their build-up play regularly pulled Everton out of shape and they found pockets of space between the lines, but the finishing touch was missing when it mattered most.
When the breakthrough arrived, it came via Pascal Groß, whose effort finally converted Brighton’s pressure into a lead. It appeared set to be the decisive moment in a match where Roberto De Zerbi’s side created enough to put Everton away.
Yet Everton under Moyes have become awkward opponents to finish off. The visitors stayed in the contest, defended with increasing desperation and waited for the game to tilt into the kind of messy finale that can change everything.
Late pressure pays off
Everton’s approach in the closing stages was direct and relentless: push bodies forward, load the box, and ask Brighton to deal with second balls. It wasn’t pretty, but it was effective.
With time draining deep into stoppage time, Everton’s persistence finally cracked the home defence. Beto, thrown on to provide a focal point, reacted quickest in a crowded area and bundled the ball over the line to spark wild scenes in the away end.
Moyes’ Everton keep their Amex streak alive
The result extends Everton’s unbeaten run away to Brighton in the league, a sequence that now stretches back to 2019. More importantly, it underlined the resilience Moyes has instilled since returning: Everton may not always control matches, but they refuse to accept defeat.
For Brighton, it will feel like two points dropped. Dominant spells and missed first-half chances will be replayed in their minds, particularly with Everton offering such a clear warning that a one-goal lead rarely feels safe against Moyes’ sides.
Beto’s late intervention ensured Everton left with a draw that felt like a win, while Brighton were left to rue another night where superior football didn’t deliver the full reward.
