Southampton Denied by Controversial VAR Decision

UPDATED 29/11/24 AT 23:07

Brighton & Hove Albion were held to a 1-1 draw at the Amex Stadium by Southampton in an intense Premier League encounter.

A first-half strike from Mitoma put the Seagulls in front, but a second-half equalizer from Downes earned the Saints a share of the spoils.

The game also featured a controversial VAR decision in the 67th minute, which saw a potential Southampton winner ruled out after a lengthy review .

Brighton came out the stronger of the two sides in the first half, controlling the tempo of play. Their pressure paid off in the 29th minute, when Mitoma gave the home side the lead.

A neat ball into the box from Lampley finds Mitoma who fires the ball into the net with a clean header past Southampton goalkeeper Lumley.

Brighton held their advantage comfortably into halftime, but the visitors had shown enough spirit to suggest they could possibly be a threat after the break.

Southampton came out with more purpose in the second half, pressing higher up the pitch and looking to force an equalizer.

Their efforts paid off in the 59th minute when Flynn Downes smashed home from the edge of the box after a corner from Ward-Prowse. The powerful strike beat Sanchez and found the bottom corner, drawing Southampton level at 1-1.

However, the game took a dramatic turn just minutes later when the Saints thought they had taken the lead in the 67th minute. A well-placed through ball found striker Cameron Archer, who coolly finished past Sanchez to put Southampton 2-1 up. But the goal was immediately flagged for a potential offside, and a lengthy VAR review followed.

The check took four minutes and 27 seconds, causing growing frustration among both players and fans. The long wait left many questioning the delay, but ultimately, the goal was ruled out. While Archer was clearly onside when the ball was played, the decision hinged on the positioning of Armstrong, who had let the ball pass behind him.

The VAR team determined that Armstrong was in an offside position when the ball was played and was deemed to have interfered with Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen’s ability to play the ball. This decision, based on the interpretation that Armstrong’s presence had an impact on Verbruggen’s line of sight, sparked debate, but the goal was disallowed.

The Premier League later released a statement clarifying the decision, explaining that Armstrong was in an offside position and had obstructed Verbruggen's ability to play the ball.

The disallowed goal added to the tension and drama, with Southampton players visibly frustrated by the lengthy review and subsequent ruling.

Southampton coach Martin spoke to Sky Sports saying "I’m fed up talking about the decisions, I don’t want to be that guy,'

'it was a brilliant, well-worked goal, if Adam Armstrong’s run had moved Verbruggen at all from his position I would understand the decision, but he hasn’t moved the ball goes behind Adam and I can’t see how it’s affected the goalkeeper,

'he actually takes a step away from Adam - now it’s not clear and obvious enough because the on-field decision carries weight, I’m annoyed about it but I’m really happy with the performance and proud of my players.”

After the disallowed goal, both teams pushed for a winner. Brighton looked the more dangerous side in the final 20 minutes, with Mitoma continuing to threaten down the left.

However, despite several decent chances, including a header from Adingra that forced a good save from Lumley, Brighton couldn’t find a way past the Southampton keeper.

The match ended in a 1-1 draw, a result that leaves Brighton in second place in the Premier League – level on points with a struggling Manchester City, who have a game in hand. The home side will be frustrated to have not taken all three points from freshly promoted Southampton.

Southampton, though disappointed by the disallowed goal and still sitting in 20th spot, will be pleased with their response after going behind, earning a valuable point on the road.

Player of the Match: Mitoma was the standout performer for Brighton, scoring the first goal and being a constant threat on the left wing. However, Southampton’s defence, particularly Stephens and goalkeeper Lumley, stood firm and kept the Seagulls at bay in the second half. Downes also played a key role in his side’s recovery, scoring the equaliser and offering a solid midfield presence.