Brighton secure first EPL win in 2 months

LEEDS, England (AP):

Brighton notched their first English Premier League win in nearly two months thanks to Neal Maupay’s first-half goal in a 1-0 victory at Leeds yesterday.

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 November 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 Phillips.

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

RODRIGO CLOSE

Rodrigo was inches away from converting Ezgjan Alioski’s low cross, however, and Mateusz Klich blazed off target after neat build-up 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.