Brighton secured a 2-0 victory at Sunderland, extending their unbeaten run to three Premier League games without conceding. Despite playing 10 men for over 30 minutes after Pascal Struijk's straight red card, the Seagulls dominated with second-half goals from Maxim De Cuyper and substitute Jaouen Hadjam.
Captain Pascal Gross controlled midfield and provided the assist for De Cuyper's opener, becoming the oldest player to register assists in three consecutive top-flight matches since Ryan Giggs in 2012. Gross, aged 35 years and 117 days, delivered a long throw that De Cuyper converted after Sunderland failed to clear.
Sunderland's struggles continued as Struijk's dismissal just before halftime proved costly. Hadjam sealed the win in stoppage time with a well-taken finish from a counter-attack involving Rutter. Former referee Mike Dean criticized the sending-off as "very harsh", though he acknowledged the VAR review process.
The victory moved Brighton higher in the league table, demonstrating their resilience and attacking prowess despite being reduced to 10 men.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing