Charalampos Kostoulas scores dramatic stoppage time equaliser after disputed Bournemouth penalty

Charalampos Kostoulas produced a moment of breathtaking drama to rescue a point for Brighton in a tense and controversial draw against Bournemouth at the Amex Stadium.

The 18 year old Greece international struck a stunning overhead kick deep into added time to cancel out a first half penalty and secure a 1 1 draw that had looked beyond Brighton for much of the evening. It was only Kostoulas’s second goal in English football and it arrived in extraordinary fashion.

With the clock ticking beyond the 90th minute Brighton pushed forward one final time. Jan Paul van Hecke rose to nod the ball into the danger area and Kostoulas reacted instinctively. Throwing himself into the air he connected cleanly with an acrobatic bicycle kick that flew into the left corner of the net. The stadium erupted as Bournemouth players collapsed to the turf.

Until that moment Bournemouth had appeared on course for a hard fought and contentious victory. They had led since the 32nd minute through Marcus Tavernier’s penalty following a prolonged and heated VAR review.

The decisive incident occurred when Morocco international Adli chased Tavernier’s low cross into the penalty area and went to ground after getting ahead of Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. Referee Paul Tierney initially booked Adli for diving but VAR intervened and ruled that Verbruggen had caught the winger on the thigh. Tavernier stepped up and confidently placed the spot kick into the bottom left corner.

The decision provoked frustration from Brighton while Bournemouth defended resolutely for the remainder of the match. The visitors arrived on the south coast aiming for back to back league wins for the first time this season and they appeared determined to protect their advantage.

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola cut a weary figure after the final whistle. His side remain three points below Brighton in the table and continue to struggle for momentum after a strong start to the campaign.

“At the end we are in that moment in the season when everything is against us,” Iraola said. “We do not have that little bit of luck you need. They scored an incredible goal an overhead kick into the top corner and you finish with a point. It is a big shame because the players gave everything. They were exhausted.”

The draw came during a period of transition for Bournemouth who are playing their first season since selling leading scorer Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City for sixty two point five million pounds. Adli replaced Semenyo in the starting lineup and found himself at the centre of the match’s biggest controversy.

Brighton had made four changes from their FA Cup win over Manchester United with Kaoru Mitoma reaching a personal milestone by making his 100th Premier League appearance. Despite spells of pressure the home side struggled to break Bournemouth down and looked increasingly desperate as the match wore on.

The late equaliser changed the mood entirely. Kostoulas’s moment of brilliance ensured Brighton avoided defeat and underlined the impact of youth in a side still searching for consistency.

For Bournemouth the result felt cruel. After defending deep and absorbing pressure for long periods they were undone by a single moment of audacity. For Brighton it was a reminder that belief can turn a match even when time appears to have run out.