Beto Bangs In Injury-Time Leveller At Brighton

Beto scored a dramatic injury-time leveller with virtually the last kick of the game to rescue a deserved point for Everton in a 1-1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Following a solid defensive showing in the first half that highlighted why the Blues came into the contest with five clean sheets from their past six away league matches, David Moyes' men were the better team after the break – their best chance coming when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall saw his low shot from seven yards out turned away by Bart Verbruggen.

Against the run of play, the hosts went ahead on 73 minutes when Pascal Gross swept in Yasin Ayari's low cross from the right.

But Everton kept battling and, with 96 minutes played and seconds left, James Garner swung in a cross that found Jake O'Brien. The big defender saw his effort parried by Verbruggen, only for substitute Beto to react first and tuck home from close range to send Moyes and the travelling Evertonians wild.

After recovering from respective hamstring injuries to make an impact off the bench in Monday's 1-1 home draw with Leeds, Dewsbury-Hall and Branthwaite were handed starts at the Amex.

With Vitalii Mykolenko picking up a knock in training during the week, Branthwaite took the left-back slot while Keane – back from a three-match suspension – partnered Tarkowski in central defence, O'Brien switching to right-back.

Meanwhile, Dewsbury-Hall returned to the No.10 role as Armstrong moved to the right side of midfield in place of Dwight McNeil.

The Blues came into this clash boasting five clean sheets in their previous six league away matches but nearly fell behind on three minutes when Kaoru Mitoma's left-wing cross picked out Danny Welbeck in the area. His close-range header was blocked before the striker tried a backheel that needed Pickford to be alert to keep out.

The Seagulls' attacking duo threatened again with 18 minutes gone, Mitoma playing a one-two with Welbeck to break into the area and drag his finish inches past the right-hand post.

Everton soon responded with a swift counter that saw Dewsbury-Hall spray a pass out wide to Ndiaye but, as the Senegalese tried to cut inside a have a pop at goal, he was edged out by solid defending from Ferdi Kadioglu.

Moyes' men looked more of a danger as the half wore on – Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye linking up well on the left, in particular – while on the other flank, Gana chipped in a cross from the byline that was close to be headed home by Barry from six yards out.

The Toffees were the first to work an opening after the interval, Barry showing strong link-up play to tee up Dewsbury-Hall, who rounded Yasin Ayari on the edge of the area and angled a low drive that crept just beyond the far post.

And the visitors created another chance 10 minutes in, O'Brien whipping a dangerous cross from the right for Branthwaite to flick inches past the left-hand upright with Tarkowski not too far away from applying the finish.

The best opportunity to break the deadlock yet came on 67 minutes when Barry took advantage of a sloppy Brighton pass to zoom into the left side of the area and cut back for Dewsbury-Hall whose shot from seven yards out was kept out by the leg of Verbruggen.

The travelling Evertonians were in fine voice enjoying their side's performance, and Tarkowski was next to go close when he was picked out by Garner's corner at the back post that the skipper headed across goal without a teammate able to get the crucial touch.

Having been second best since the restart, however, Brighton went ahead on 73 minutes when Ayari passed across goal from the right, substitute Charalampos Kostoulas stepped over the ball and Gross swept home a first-time shot beyond Pickford.

Moyes responded with 11 minutes remaining with three changes – Tyler Dibling, Tim Iroegbunam and Charly Alcaraz replacing Branthwaite, Gana and Dewsbury-Hall.

And in the closing stages, Beto and Nathan Patterson replaced Barry and Branthwaite.

Patterson nearly made an instant impact as his swinging right-wing cross was volleyed on the turn by Keane into the arms of Verbruggen.

That looked to be Everton's last chance. But, as six minutes of added time were signalled, play went into a seventh minute, and that was just enough time for Garner to cross from the right, O'Brien to shoot at goal, Verbruggen to save, and Beto to tap in from three yards out.

A delighted Moyes danced onto the pitch as Beto lapped up the adulation from the delighted Evertonians who enjoyed another trip on the road.