Nigerian midfielder Iwobi shines, records brace as Fulham down Brighton

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi delivered a masterclass performance, netting twice as Fulham secured a 3-1 win over Brighton at Craven Cottage.

The victory spurred Marco Silva’s side to sixth in the Premier League, narrowing the gap to Brighton to just one point.

The match got off to a dramatic start when Iwobi capitalised on Bart Verbruggen’s early error just four minutes into the game. A misplaced pass from the Brighton goalkeeper allowed Iwobi to calmly slot the ball home, handing Fulham an early advantage.

ALSO READ:

• FA refrains from action against Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi over religious message
• Van Nistelrooy guides Leicester to victory over West Ham in his first Foxes match
• Alex Iwobi grabs match winner as Fulham beat Leicester in Premier League
• Botafogo make history with first Copa Libertadores triumph after beating Atlético Mineiro

Despite the setback, Brighton responded with determination, dominating much of the first half. Joao Pedro forced a fine save from Bernd Leno, while Simon Adingra missed a golden chance, firing straight at the Fulham keeper from Kaoru Mitoma’s precise cross.

Fulham, however, posed a consistent threat on the counterattack. Rodrigo Muniz came close to doubling their lead just before halftime. The forward narrowly headed wide from Antonee Robinson’s perfectly placed cross. Moments later, Harry Wilson tested Brighton’s defense with a quick restart after the interval.

Brighton’s persistence paid off in the 56th minute when they finally broke through Fulham’s defense with a moment of brilliance. Jan Paul van Hecke’s long ball was deftly flicked on by Joao Pedro into Carlos Baleba’s path. The midfielder drilled a low strike into the bottom corner, leveling the score with a touch of class.

The momentum seemed to favour Brighton, but Fulham quickly regained control. In the 79th minute, Andreas Pereira’s dangerous corner deflected off Matt O’Riley, resulting in an unfortunate own goal to restore Fulham’s lead.

Iwobi then delivered the decisive blow late in the game, showcasing his technical brilliance. Dancing past defenders, he curled a stunning effort into the far corner, putting the contest beyond Brighton’s reach. The strike capped off an exceptional display from the Nigerian midfielder, who proved to be the game’s standout performer.

While Brighton impressed with their fluid attacking play, they struggled to convert chances into goals. Fabian Hurzeler, watching from the stands due to a touchline ban, will have been frustrated by his team’s missed opportunities, especially given their dominance in the first half.

Although the Seagulls equalised with style, they failed to maintain their momentum, leaving Fulham to capitalise on key moments. The hosts, buoyed by Iwobi’s brilliance, displayed resilience and composure to secure an important victory.

Fulham’s win extends Brighton’s winless streak against them in the Premier League to nine matches. With a showdown against Arsenal looming, Iwobi will be eager to carry his fine form into the next challenge.

Tags: Fulham, Brighton, Alex Iwobi, Seagulls, Fabian Hurzeler, Matt O’Riley, Andreas Pereira, Joao Pedro, Carlos Baleba, Bart Verbruggen, Rodrigo Muniz, Antonee Robinson, Craven Cottage, #NewsRoundTheClock, #nrtcnewsnigeria, #nrtcnews, #nrtcsports, #nrtcnigeria, #FULBHA, #PremierLeague.