Van Hecke Earns Draw for Brighton & Hove Albion After Verbruggen's Costly Error Versus Wolves

The Norwegian striker, after being a major transfer collapse late in the window, was seen frustratedly arguing with his team's coaching staff when the match ended. It happened following his second-half substitution, just moments post he hit the post with Wolves ahead thanks to Bart Verbruggen's unfortunate deflection. The Seagulls pushed for a late leveler, that came through defender Van Hecke.

Wolverhampton Denied Once More by Late Goal

This marks the second successive week, Wolves' attempt to kickstart their campaign up and running was stymied by a late equaliser. Vítor Pereira had been sent off just before the top flight's last-placed team went ahead, after a Munetsi shot came back off the bar and in off the opposition goalkeeper.

Brighton's side deserved a point for their after-interval dominance, but Wolves, for the second consecutive match after their tie at Spurs, looked as if they were going to hold out for a first league victory of the season before allowing a late leveler.

Match Explodes with Incidents

The striker looked Wolves' most likely source for a crucial second goal, and the home team seemed less able to get out with Jhon Arias leading the line. The game burst into action in the middle of the opening period.

Pereira was furious at Jarred Gillett's call not to give a set-piece when Gomes was challenged by Baleba midway in the opposition half. Then, following the referee cautioned Baleba for an altogether more obvious infraction on Bueno, the red card was shown to the Wolves manager for kicking a replacement ball from a marker at the officials' technical area. Even though he promptly apologised, it was clearly a reckless action. The tension had been ignited.

After a deep set-piece into the visitors' area was nodded back into the six-yard box, Danny Welbeck only managed to clear the ball out as far as Munetsi, to the right of the spot, who dispatched a veritable hammer of a shot goalwards. Although the keeper managed to deflect the ball onto the bottom of the crossbar, it rebounded down and across the line off the goalkeeper's hand.

One almost became two, only for Verbruggen to very deliberately tip Ladislav Krejci's header, from a further long angled set-piece, to safety. Brighton, with their very impressive record at their ground – they had taken victory in their previous four matches here – and a good beginning to the season as well, counterattacked with sporadic menace.

After the Break Action

When Jackson Tchatatchoua underpowered a return pass, Brajan Gruda was within his rights to challenge Sam Johnstone for the ball, although he made contact with the Wolves goalkeeper with his challenge. After a tetchy spell, the significance of the next goal became increasingly obvious. It almost went Wolves' way, early in the second half, only for Jhon Arias to sidefoot over the bar from close range after a superb break spearheaded by Larsen, after he allowed Hwang Hee-chan to set up the advancing Bueno to cross into the box.

The away side, a little slow in the opening 45, looked stronger for the introducing of Rutter and, from Yankuba Minteh's left-side cross, the substitute could barely have caught his shot any more perfectly.

The Wolves keeper, though, justifying his selection in goal ahead of José Sá, dived back to his side to deny him. The Brighton coach had already asked Ayari to man the back of his engine room on his own, leading Brighton to greater territorial control, when he introduced the forward Stefanos Tzimas to join Welbeck in attack, with Gómez just in support of them.

Final Twist as Defender Scores

Brighton have notched more times against Wolves than against any other team in the top division. But Wolves were set to hang on to what they had and so nearly sealing the match to bed when Larsen shot against the base of the post. The Norway striker, still seeking full fitness after an achilles injury, did not look impressed when he was taken off minutes later as Luis Miguel, the manager's assistant, looked to secure the victory. The move failed though as Brighton drew level with 4 minutes remaining.

Wolves felt the ball had already gone behind for a goal-kick when the defender ensured by touching it on. From Minteh's short corner, Maxim De Cuyper crossed and, after Tzimas got a small touch, Van Hecke powered in only his second ever goal in seventy-seven league appearances for the team.