Southampton drew 1-1 against high-flying Brighton on Friday, but a contentious VAR call kept them from winning. Cameron Archer believed he had put the Saints ahead 2-1, but Flynn Downes had just canceled out Kaoru Mitoma’s Brighton opening. After more than four minutes of VAR review, the officials determined that Archer was onside. The referee penalized Adam Armstrong, who was offside but did not touch the ball, for interfering with play. Southampton is now four points outside of safety at the bottom of the league after having to settle for their first away point of the season.
Brighton moved up to second place in alphabetical order with just one point, ahead of Manchester City, who play leaders Liverpool on Sunday in the weekend’s main event.
Brighton regretted not putting forth a more commanding first-half performance.
Mitoma squandered a great opportunity in the first moments, while Georginio Rutter struck the post and missed another attempt.
At the break, Brighton’s pressure paid off as Mitoma leaned down to head home a cross from Tariq Lamptey.
Thirteen minutes into the second half, Tyler Dibling, the architect, gave Southampton the lead.
Downes smashed home the loose ball from the area’s edge after the teenager’s square pass set up Armstrong, who attempted the shot, but the goalkeeper stopped it.
After eight minutes, Dibling distributed the pass to Fraser after squeezing past three Brighton defenders inside his own half.
“I’m tired of discussing decisions,” Martin remarked.
“The information we received indicated that Bart Verbruggen’s ability to play the ball is impacted, and I could understand the judgment if Adam’s run had put Verbruggen out of position, but it hasn’t.”
“I cannot see how it has affected the goalkeeper.”
After 13 minutes of extra time due to the VAR delay, Brighton came very close to winning in the end.
On the stretch, Simon Adingra’s attempt slid off the far post’s outside.
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