Brighton and Hove Albion claimed a 1-0 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light thanks to one of the strangest goals of the Premier League weekend. Yankuba Minteh, starting on the left in Kaoru Mitoma's absence, appeared to be trying to hook the ball back across goal from the byeline in the 58th minute, only for his sliced delivery to skid inside Melker Ellborg's near post. Sunderland were incensed because Habib Diarra was down in the area after a clash with Lewis Dunk, but VAR cleared both that incident and Jan Paul van Hecke's position in front of the goalkeeper, so the goal stood.
It was enough to send Fabian Hurzeler's side above Sunderland on goal difference and complete Brighton's first league win on Wearside since 1981. The visitors had been the sharper team in a subdued first half, with Jack Hinshelwood twice denied by Ellborg, while Lewis Dunk had to clear Chemsdine Talbi's strike off the line. Sunderland briefly thought Chris Rigg had put them ahead early in the second half, only for VAR to rule it out for offside in the build-up, and Regis Le Bris' side never quite found the response they needed.
Brighton asked the clearer questions before the break
For long stretches of the opening half, Brighton looked the more coherent side. James Milner, operating deep in midfield, helped them control the tempo, while Hinshelwood caused problems from a role behind Danny Welbeck. The clearest chance of the half arrived when Minteh, lively from the left, whipped a teasing ball into the six-yard box and Hinshelwood met it first time, only for Ellborg to stick out a leg and make an excellent save on his home debut.