Semenyo’s cool penalty settles bruising south-coast contest as Bournemouth beat Brighton 2-1

Bournemouth made their sharper edge and clearer chances count in a scrappy, hard-fought 2-1 victory over Brighton at Vitality Stadium. Alex Scott struck first after Antoine Semenyo’s excellent control and lay-off on the edge of the area, before Kaoru Mitoma levelled with a back-post header soon after the restart. The decisive moment came on the hour when Semenyo converted from the spot after Jan Paul van Hecke brought down Evanilson.

Brighton’s rhythm was compromised by early injuries to Jack Hinshelwood and Maxim De Cuyper, and the opener arrived while De Cuyper was still off the pitch receiving treatment. The Seagulls improved markedly after half-time—sparked by Yankuba Minteh on the right—but Bournemouth reasserted control after taking the lead again and saw out a rugged finale with minimal alarm.

Brighton rocked by early injuries, Scott seizes the chance

The visitors endured a bruising opening few minutes. Hinshelwood hobbled off after a hefty coming together with Evanilson on halfway, then De Cuyper was shoved into the advertising hoardings by Semenyo and could not continue, with Ferdi Kadioglu summoned. With Brighton disrupted and De Cuyper still off the field receiving attention, Scott struck in the 18th minute—taking Semenyo’s lay-off and rifling a left-foot shot from just outside the box.

Bournemouth’s first-half authority was underpinned by the dynamic Adrien Truffert and the lively front line. David Brooks had a shot blocked, Evanilson twice threatened with headers from Truffert crosses—one over and one straight at Bart Verbruggen—and Semenyo drove into the box only to slice wide under pressure. Brighton’s only notable moment before the interval came when Minteh burst clear down the right and forced a sharp near-post stop from Djordje Petrovic.

Minteh sparks a response, Mitoma levels the ledger

Brighton emerged revitalised and needed only three minutes of the second half to restore parity. Minteh, their most persistent threat, whipped a teasing cross to the back post where Mitoma arrived unmarked to climb and nod home from close range. It was the fluent move the visitors had been searching for.

The equaliser fuelled Brighton’s best spell. Minteh soon flashed a deflected drive into the side-netting after another incisive run, and Danny Welbeck connected sweetly with a right-foot volley that drifted just wide after a corner was only half-cleared. For a brief passage, Bournemouth’s composure wobbled—but not for long.

The spot-kick that split opinion

The contest pivoted again on 61 minutes. A misplaced pass from Lewis Dunk exposed Brighton, Bournemouth broke at speed, and Evanilson was tripped by van Hecke as he drove into the box. Semenyo stepped up and, with Verbruggen diving, rolled his penalty into the centre for his third goal of the season.

The decision stirred debate. An ex-Premier League referee on television described the contact as minimal and called it a poor on-field decision, while Brighton head coach Fabian Hürzeler said he had no complaint about the penalty itself but pointed to other contentious moments. Either way, Bournemouth regained control and managed territory effectively in the closing stages.

Iraola’s blend of youth and intensity, Brighton’s frustration

There was substance to Andoni Iraola’s satisfaction. Truffert patrolled the left touchline with purpose at both ends, Scott’s composed finish rewarded Bournemouth’s first-half superiority, and Semenyo delivered end product to match his industry. Teenage centre-back Veljko Milosavljevic, a deadline-day arrival, debuted impressively at 18—becoming Bournemouth’s youngest-ever Premier League player—and lent a touch of calm when it mattered. “It is super, super early in the season,” Iraola cautioned, praising Semenyo’s versatility across both wings and as a late number nine.

Brighton could still point to positives, especially Minteh’s tireless running and Mitoma’s timing, but they were not fluid enough for long stretches. Hürzeler lamented the sequence around the opener—“It shouldn’t be like this and then we concede a goal with 10 men”—and accepted that small margins and a lack of sharpness ultimately cost his side.