Spurs concede last-gasp goal to stay in drop zone

Spurs v Brighton2025-26 English Premier LeagueTottenham HotspurSpursTOT7-10-16, 31 PTS27-10-16, 31 PTSFTBrighton & Hove AlbionBrightonBHA12-11-10, 47 PTS212-11-10, 47 PTSPedro Porro - 39'Xavi Simons - 77'Kaoru Mitoma - 45'+3'Georginio Rutter - 90'+5'ByPAUpdated: Apr 18, 2027, 04:31 pmFacebookFacebook MessengerTwitterEmail

Tottenham remain in the Premier League relegation zone after they were stunned by a stoppage-time leveler from Brighton substitute Georginio Rutter during a pulsating 2-2 draw in Roberto De Zerbi's home debut.

Spurs looked set to end a 15-match winless in the top-flight when Xavi Simons produced a superb 77th-minute strike to spark wild celebrations.

Simon's fine effort followed up his assist for Pedro Porro's opener after 39 minutes, which was cancelled out by Kaoru Mitoma in first-half stoppage-time.

However, scenes of jubilation turned to disbelief when Kevin Danso lost possession in the fifth minute of time added on and Rutter curled home to ensure the spoils were shared.

It denied De Zerbi's team a first victory in charge and means Tottenham will stay in the bottom three for another week with only five matches left to prevent a first relegation since 1977.

Spurs had spent a whole week in the relegation zone, but there was an air of positivity in N17 with James Maddison surprisingly named in the matchday squad for the first time this season and Simons back in the starting lineup.

A sea of white flags welcomed the teams before De Zerbi's pleasantries with his old players were followed by multiple warnings by the fourth official Ben Toner for walking onto the pitch.

Clear-cut action was limited, but Tottenham had penalty appeals waved away in the 10th-minute after Destiny Udogie tangled with Brighton attacker Yankuba Minteh.

Diego Gómez limped off for the visitors soon after, before Simons went close with a low effort deflected wide.

Brighton enjoyed a sustained spell of pressure afterward and Spurs stand-in captain Micky van de Ven smashed a clearance against the post to deny Danny Welbeck after a dangerous Jack Hinshelwood knockdown, before Antonín Kinsky saved Welbeck's header.

After Tottenham survived, De Zerbi watched the first goal of his era come from Porro. Simons was central to it with a wonderful clipped cross and Porro stole in to head over Bart Verbruggen.

Two minutes later and it should have been 2-0 when Dominic Solanke passed into Simons, who cut inside Ferdi Kadioglu but curled the ball against the post from eight yards and Porro's follow-up was tipped over by Verbruggen.

It would prove costly when Mitoma lashed home on the volley in supreme fashion from an equally impressive Pascal Gross cross.

Hinshelwood headed wide before half-time and Brighton picked up where they left off after the break with Danso forced to clear ahead of Welbeck and then block an effort by Mitoma.

De Zerbi received a caution soon after for going down the touchline again before a raft of substitutes sparked a grand finale.

João Palhinha went close after his introduction before Lucas Bergvall marked his entrance with a key role in Simons' goal.

Bergvall won back possession from Jan Paul van Hecke and played in Simons, who made space against Mats Wieffer and curled sumptuously beyond Verbruggen.

Wild scenes in front of the South Stand were followed by a bout of cramp for Simons, before the late twist in the tale.

Danso wanted too long on the ball inside the area and Van Hecke stole in and teed up Rutter to break Tottenham hearts and prevent the hosts moving out of the bottom three.

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium12:30 PM, April 18, 2026Coverage: NBC/TeleLondon, England Attendance: 61,167

• Referees:
• Stuart Attwell

Team	GP	W	D	L	GD	P
Arsenal	32	21	7	4	+38	70
Manchester City	31	19	7	5	+35	64
Manchester United	32	15	10	7	+12	55
Aston Villa	32	16	7	9	+5	55
Liverpool	32	15	7	10	+10	52
Chelsea	32	13	9	10	+12	48
Brentford	33	13	9	11	+4	48
AFC Bournemouth	33	11	15	7	0	48
Brighton & Hove Albion	33	12	11	10	+6	47
Everton	32	13	8	11	+2	47
Sunderland	32	12	10	10	-3	46
Fulham	33	13	6	14	-3	45
Crystal Palace	31	11	9	11	-1	42
Newcastle United	33	12	6	15	-3	42
Leeds United	33	9	12	12	-7	39
Nottingham Forest	32	8	9	15	-12	33
West Ham United	32	8	8	16	-17	32
Tottenham Hotspur	33	7	10	16	-11	31
Burnley	32	4	8	20	-30	20
Wolverhampton Wanderers	33	3	8	22	-37	17

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