Southampton were denied a crucial second Premier League win of the season after Cameron Archer’s second-half tap-in was ruled out for offside during their 1-1 draw against Brighton.
The Saints appeared to have completed a remarkable eight-minute turnaround when Archer found the net, but the assistant referee flagged for offside in the buildup. After a lengthy four-and-a-half-minute VAR review, the decision stood, with Adam Armstrong adjudged to have interfered with play. The PGMOL Match Centre later explained that Armstrong was deemed to have impacted Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen’s ability to react as the ball flashed past him.
As a result, Southampton had to settle for a single point, leaving them rooted to the bottom of the table, four points adrift of safety. Meanwhile, Brighton climbed to second place in the standings, edging above Manchester City on head-to-head record.
Brighton dominated the early stages, with Kaoru Mitoma posing a constant threat. The Japanese winger squandered an early chance after dispossessing Yukinari Sugawara and later set up opportunities for teammates, including Danny Welbeck, who headed over. Mitoma eventually broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute, sneaking ahead of the unalert Sugawara to nod home a precise cross from Tariq Lamptey.
Southampton struggled to create much in the first half, with their best chance coming when Archer sent a side-footed effort wide. However, they struck back in the 59th minute with their first shot on target. Flynn Downes pounced on a loose ball from Armstrong’s blocked effort and smashed it into the net, giving the visitors a much-needed equaliser.
The goal rattled Brighton, and Southampton thought they had taken the lead through Archer, only for VAR to intervene and uphold the initial offside call. Despite their spirited performance, the Saints left the Amex Stadium frustrated, while Brighton continued their impressive push near the top of the table.
