Tomer Hemed strike earns Brighton win against Newcastle
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ByEurosport
Updated 24/09/2017 at 17:34 GMT
Amex Stadium, Premier League - Brighton 1 (Hemed 51) Newcastle 0
Brighton's Tomer Hemed celebrates scoring their first goal
Image credit: Reuters
Tomer Hemed scored the only goal of the game as Brighton picked up their second win of the season against Newcastle at the Amex Stadium.
The Israel striker hit home from close range early in the second half after a cleverly worked free-kick to break the deadlock after a tightly contested first-half.
Rob Elliot clawed Solly March’s header off the line minutes later as Brighton’s pressure intensified, but Newcastle twice went close to grabbing an equaliser, Mikel Merino’s volley was deflected agonisingly wide before substitute Jonjo Shelvey struck the post from a corner.
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Brighton's Tomer Hemed in action with Newcastle United's Paul Dummett, Jamaal Lascelles and Mikel Merino
Image credit: Reuters
The win drags Chris Hughton’s men away from the relegation zone into 13th, three points above the drop zone.
Newcastle, meanwhile, slip down to ninth, courtesy of an inferior goal difference compared with Huddersfield and Burnley.
TALKING POINT
Home form the key to Brighton’s survival – Hughton’s side have now won two of their three home games, following up the hugely impressive 3-1 victory over West Brom with a hard fought victory over fellow new-boys Newcastle. Having accrued seven points in their first six games back in the top-flight, Hughton will be undoubtedly pleased with his side’s start to the season, but they have to maintain such form if they are to stay in the division, and winning at the Amex will be the key.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Tomer Hemed (Brighton) – Showed all of the characteristics of an instinctive striker to win the game for his side. Hughton’s team has now won 13 of the 14 home games in which the 30-year-old has scored.
PLAYER RATINGS
Brighton: Ryan 7, Bruno 7, Duffy 7, Dunk, 8 Suttner 7, Knockaert 8, Stephens 7, Propper 6, March 7, Gross 6, Hemed 8. Subs: Murphy 5.
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Brighton players celebrate victory as Matt Ritchie of Newcastle United (11) looks dejected after the Premier League match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Newcastle United at Amex Stadium on September 24, 2017 in Brighton, England
Image credit: Getty Images
Newcastle: Elliot 7, Yedlin 6, Clark 6, Lascelles 6, Mbemba 6, Hayden 6, Merino 7, Atsu 6, Perez 6, Ritchie 7, Joselu 5. Subs: Shelvey 6, Gayle 5, Gamez 6.
KEY MOMENTS
4’ - NEWCASTLE GO CLOSE! Merino is picked out on the edge of the box from the corner and his first-time volley forces a great reaction save from Ryan!
11’ - A GREAT CHANCE GOES BEGGING FOR BRIGHTON! Knockaert races forward, picking out March on the overlap. His low cross is deflected to Gross in space but his goal-bound half-volley smacks off his own team-mate and out of play, denying Brighton a certain opener!
21’ - INCHES WIDE FROM JOSELU! A brilliant counter-attack from Newcastle almost culminates in a goal for the visitors. Dunk fails to clear from Perez's clever cut-back and the loose ball falls kindly for Joselu who screws a low shot inches wide from only a matter of yards. That was Newcastle's best chance thus far.
51’ - GOAL - HEMED PUTS BRIGHTON AHEAD! Newcastle are caught out from a clever set-piece. Gross's free-kick picks out Stephens who peels off his marker at the back post, nodding the ball into the path of Hemed who flicks it into the top corner to give the hosts the lead!
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Joselu of Newcastle United (21) shoots past Davy Propper and Mathew Ryan of Brighton and Hove Albion, but misses during the Premier League match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Newcastle United at Amex Stadium on September 24, 2017 in Brighton, Engla
Image credit: Getty Images
55’ - ELLIOT SAVES ON THE LINE! So close to a Brighton second! Bruno delivers a lovely cross to the back post towards March who is at full-stretch to send the ball towards goal, but Elliot saves the ball on the line with his outstretched leg!
61’ - MERINO GOES CLOSE! Ritchie smashes his free-kick straight into the wall, but it comes back to Merino who tries his luck from 25 yards, the shot takes a deflection off Duffy and goes narrowly over the bar. So close to an equaliser.
73’ - OFF THE POST! Shelvey strikes the woodwork - from a corner! Ryan may just get a hand to it, but Brighton are lucky to have their clean sheet intact regardless.
KEY STATS
- Brighton have won back-to-back home league games in the top-flight for the first time since November 1982.
- Tomer Hemed has had a hand in 20 goals in his last 23 league starts at the Amex Stadium for Brighton (15 goals, five assists).
- Tomer Hemed scored Brighton's first Premier League goal from a set-piece - he has scored two goals from four shots on target in the Premier League.
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