Jan Paul van Hecke Earns Draw for Brighton Following Verbruggen's Costly Error Versus Wolves

The Norwegian striker, who saw a major transfer collapse recently, appeared frustratedly confronting Wolves' coaching staff at full-time. It happened following his late substitution, shortly post he hit the woodwork with Wolves leading thanks to Bart Verbruggen's unfortunate deflection. Brighton pushed to get a last-gasp leveler, that came through defender Van Hecke.

Wolves Frustrated Again by Late Goal

This marks the second successive week, Wolves' attempt to get their season up and running was thwarted by a last-ditch equaliser. The Wolves manager had been sent off shortly prior to the top flight's bottom side went ahead, after Marshall Munetsi's shot rebounded off the bar and in off the Brighton goalkeeper.

Fabian Hürzeler's side earned a point for their second-half control, but Wolves, in their second game in a row following their draw at Tottenham, looked as if they were going to hang on for a maiden league victory of the campaign before allowing a last-minute leveler.

Match Explodes with Incidents

The striker looked Wolves' best bet for a crucial second goal, and the home team seemed struggling to get out with Jhon Arias spearheading the line. The match exploded into action in the middle of the opening period.

Pereira was furious at Jarred Gillett's call not to give a set-piece when João Gomes was challenged by Carlos Baleba in the middle in the opposition half. Then, following the referee cautioned Baleba for an altogether clearer foul on Hugo Bueno, the dismissal was shown to the coach for striking a replacement ball off a cone at the referee's dugout. Even though he quickly said sorry, it was evidently a reckless action. The tension had been ignited.

When a deep set-piece into the Brighton box was headed back into the six-yard box, Welbeck only managed to head the ball away as far as Munetsi, to the right of the spot, who unleashed a veritable hammer of a shot toward goal. Even though the keeper managed to tip the ball onto the underside of the bar, it rebounded down and over the line off the shot-stopper's hand.

One almost turned into two, only for the Brighton keeper to very deliberately push Ladislav Krejci's headed effort, from another long diagonal set-piece, over the bar. Brighton, with their deeply impressive history at their ground – they had won their previous four previous games – and a good start to the campaign as well, counterattacked with sporadic threat.

After the Break Action

When Jackson Tchatatchoua underhit a return pass, Gruda was within his rights to contest Sam Johnstone for the ball, though he made contact with the home goalkeeper with his challenge. After a tetchy spell, the significance of the next goal became more obvious. It almost fell Wolves' way, soon in the second half, only for Jhon Arias to place high from close range after a excellent break led by Strand Larsen, after he allowed Hwang to set up the overlapping Hugo Bueno to cross into the box.

Brighton, a little slow in the opening 45, looked stronger for the introduction of Rutter and, from Minteh's left-side delivery, the substitute could hardly have struck his shot any more sweetly.

The Wolves keeper, however, justifying his retention in goal ahead of Sá, dived back to his right to save. Hürzeler had already asked Ayari to man the back of his midfield on his own, leading Brighton to greater possession dominance, when he introduced the forward Tzimas to join Welbeck in attack, with Gómez just behind them.

Late Drama as Defender Scores

Brighton have scored more goals against Wolves than against every other team in the top division. But Wolves were determined to hold firm to what they had and so came close to sealing the game to bed when Strand Larsen shot against the foot of the post. The Norway striker, yet to regain peak condition after an achilles injury, appeared far from impressed when he was withdrawn moments later as Luis Miguel, the manager's assistant, looked to shore up the victory. The move failed though as Brighton equalised with 4 minutes remaining.

Wolves felt the ball had already gone out for a goal kick when Tchatatchoua made sure by nudging it forward. From Minteh's near-post corner, Maxim De Cuyper delivered and, after the substitute got a small flick-on, Van Hecke powered in only his second goal in 77 league appearances for the club.