Brighton & Hove Albion salvaged a dramatic 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux Stadium on Sunday, with Jan Paul van Hecke’s 86th-minute header cancelling out a calamitous own goal from Bart Verbruggen early in the contest. In a match defined by intensity, a first-half red card, and late drama, both teams left with a point that does little to alter their seasons’ respective trajectories.

Wolves, enjoying a resurgence under new manager Vítor Pereira, made the brighter start, leaning on a disciplined defensive shape and sharp counterattacks—a tactical necessity after centre-back Vítor Pereira was sent off for a direct red card in the 20th minute, forcing the hosts to play over 70 minutes a man down. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Wolves struck first in the 21st minute through a bizarre sequence: Brighton’s normally reliable keeper Bart Verbruggen made a spectacular save, only to see the ball rebound off the crossbar and back onto his own glove, ricocheting over the line for an own goal. The own goal stunned Brighton, and Wolves, emboldened by their slice of fortune, retreated to a low block, tasking Brighton’s creative midfield with breaking them down.

Brighton’s efforts to exploit their numerical superiority stuttered in the face of Wolves’ resilience. A flurry of bookings—four for Brighton before halftime—underscored the tension and frustration simmering through Roberto De Zerbi’s side, as they struggled for composure in the final third. Wolves defended heroically throughout, with Santiago Bueno and the tireless André pivotal in rebuffing waves of Brighton attacks. In attack, Wolves offered fleeting threats via the industrious Hwang Hee-Chan and substitute Jørgen Strand Larsen, but struggled to hold possession for long stretches.

The breakthrough Brighton sought finally arrived in the 86th minute. Substitute Stelios Tzimas produced a precise delivery from the right, and Jan Paul van Hecke rose unmarked, guiding a powerful header past Johnstone to level the score. The late equalizer swung the momentum, but Wolves refused to buckle, holding on through a nerve-shredding eight minutes of stoppage time to secure a hard-earned draw.

Both sides emerge with mixed emotions—Brighton missing a golden opportunity to bolster their ambitions for European football, and Wolves buoyed by a courageous performance but left frustrated not to have held on for all three points. As the Premier League calendar edges toward its midpoint, this result keeps Brighton hovering mid-table, while Wolves take another step toward safety under Pereira’s stewardship.

(Main match coverage and key moments corroborated from ESPN and official Premier League broadcast highlights on YouTube from NBC Sports, which confirmed Verbruggen’s own goal and van Hecke’s late equalizer.)