Cottagers see of Seagulls in West London

Fulham triumphed 3-1 over Brighton at Craven Cottage in a thrilling Premier League encounter.

Alex Iwobi stole the spotlight on a windy night in West London.

Despite Brighton’s relentless pressure and moments of brilliance, Marco Silva’s side capitalised on crucial opportunities to claim all three points.

The game began in chaotic fashion, with Brighton’s goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen gifting Fulham the opening goal in just the fourth minute.

Attempting to play out from the back, Verbruggen passed directly to Iwobi, who calmly slotted the ball into an open net to put the hosts ahead.

It was Fulham’s fastest Premier League goal at home since August 2022.

Brighton responded well, dominating possession and creating several chances.

BIG three points! 🤍#FULBHA pic.twitter.com/uz0vwPYnOY

— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) December 5, 2024

Kaoru Mitoma and Joao Pedro tested Fulham’s defence, while Carlos Baleba and Simon Adingra were lively in midfield.

However, Brighton’s finishing lacked precision, with Bernd Leno making crucial saves to keep Fulham in the lead at halftime.

After the break, Brighton’s persistence paid off.

In the 56th minute, Pedro produced a sublime assist, flicking the ball into Baleba’s path with the outside of his boot.

The Cameroonian midfielder fired a low shot past Leno to level the score at 1-1.

Fulham, however, didn’t take long to regain control.

In the 79th minute, a well-delivered Andreas Pereira corner caused chaos in Brighton’s box.

The ball ricocheted off Matthew O’Riley and into the back of the net, much to the frustration of Brighton captain Lewis Dunk, who was booked for his animated protests.

The hosts sealed the victory in the 87th minute with a stunning goal from Iwobi.

The Nigerian international showcased his class by turning sharply in a tight space inside the box before rifling a right-footed shot into the bottom corner.

It was his second goal of the game and undoubtedly the highlight of a man-of-the-match performance.

Brighton continued to push until the final whistle but couldn’t find a way back.

The result keeps Fulham in the hunt for a top-half finish, while Brighton will be disappointed to leave empty-handed after creating multiple chances but failing to convert.