Brighton beats Leeds 1-0 in EPL for first win in 2 months

Posted January 16, 2021 6:00 am

The Associated Press

Brighton and Hove Albion's Neal Maupay, center, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Elland Road Stadium in Leeds, England, Saturday, Jan.16, 2021. (Peter Powell/Pool via AP) The Associated Press

LEEDS, England (AP) - Brighton notched its first English Premier League win in nearly two months thanks to Neal Maupay's first-half goal in a 1-0 victory at Leeds on Saturday.

The French striker applied the finishing touch at the far post following a flowing team move in the 17th minute for his seventh goal of the season.

Brighton halted a 10-game winless run in all competitions. The last triumph was on Nov. 21 at Aston Villa.

It was a successful return to Elland Road for Brighton's Ben White, who helped Leeds win promotion to the top-flight during a loan spell last season. His former club slipped to a third straight loss for the first time in 12 months.

Marcelo Bielsa's side was bidding to bounce back from last week's embarrassing FA Cup defeat at fourth-tier Crawley and sorely missed suspended midfielder Kalvin Philiips.

Leeds rarely got close to producing the form which has won the team so many admirers since its return to the Premier League.

Rodrigo was inches away from converting Ezgjan Alioski's low cross, however, and Mateusz Klich blazed off target after neat buildup play.

At the other end, referee Kevin Friend was unimpressed when Maupay went to ground in the penalty area with Luke Ayling in hot pursuit, but the Frenchman gave Brighton the lead soon after.

Leandro Trossard's and Alexis MacAllister's neat exchange carved Leeds open in the area and Maupay, unmarked at the back post, turned home the latter's low cross.

Brighton moved up one place to 16th in the 20-team league.

___

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Brighton and Hove Albion's Neal Maupay, right, scores his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Elland Road Stadium in Leeds, England, Saturday, Jan.16, 2021. (Jon Super/Pool via AP) The Associated Press

Brighton's Neal Maupay celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Elland Road Stadium in Leeds, England, Saturday, Jan.16, 2021. (Peter Powell/Pool via AP) The Associated Press

Brighton's English manager Graham Potter congratulates Brighton's French striker Neal Maupay as he leaves the game substituted during the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Elland Road Stadium in Leeds, England, Saturday, Jan.16, 2021. (Jon Super/Pool via AP) The Associated Press

Article Comments

Article Categories
Content Providers MLS Pro Sports Soccer Sports Sports Leagues Sports Types

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.