Rodrigo Muniz’s dramatic late goal earned Fulham a 1-1 draw against Brighton in their Premier League opener. Brighton dominated, taking the lead through Matt O’Riley’s penalty, but Muniz’s injury-time strike salvaged a point for Fulham. The goal underscores Muniz’s impact as a substitute, as it’s his seventh goal as a substitute in the Premier League since the start of last season. The draw means that Fulham has now earned 22 points from losing positions since the start of last season.
The Amex Stadium witnessed a dramatic conclusion as Rodrigo Muniz's injury-time goal secured a 1-1 draw for Fulham against Brighton in their Premier League season opener. The late equalizer salvaged a point for the Cottagers, who had been largely outplayed for much of the match.
Muniz, a Brazilian forward recently linked with a move to Atalanta in Serie A, proved to be the hero for Fulham. His goal, arriving six minutes into added time, was Fulham's final attack of the game, and it came against the run of play after a subdued performance.
Brighton dominated possession and created numerous chances, but they only managed to convert one into a goal. Their breakthrough came in the 55th minute when Matt O'Riley confidently converted a penalty. The spot-kick was awarded after Sander Berge clumsily tripped Brighton's Georginio Rutter inside the penalty area.
Prior to the penalty, Brighton had been knocking on the door, creating several openings. After taking the lead, the Seagulls appeared to be in control, aiming for their fifth consecutive victory on the opening day of a Premier League season. Lewis Dunk and Brajan Gruda had opportunities to extend Brighton's lead and seemingly put the game beyond Fulham's reach. Gruda, in particular, was guilty of missing two late chances to seal the victory, steering his shots wide of the target.
Fulham struggled to create clear-cut chances throughout the match and appeared to be heading for a defeat. However, with time running out, they mounted one final attack. Tom Cairney delivered a corner into the Brighton penalty area, and the ball was flicked on towards the far post. Muniz reacted quickly, firing a shot across goal and into the net, sending the travelling Fulham supporters into raptures.
The goal was a sucker punch for Brighton, who had largely dictated the tempo of the match. They will feel aggrieved to have conceded so late, especially after controlling the game for extended periods. Nonetheless, Fulham showed resilience and determination to snatch a point from a game in which they were second-best for long stretches.
Data Debrief: Muniz's Impact Off the Bench
Fulham's ability to secure points from losing positions has been a notable feature of their game since the beginning of the previous season. The draw against Brighton means they have now accumulated 22 points from such situations, a record surpassed only by Liverpool and Brighton themselves, who both have 23 points.
Brighton's penalty, converted by O'Riley, was their eighth in the Premier League since the start of last season. Only Liverpool, with nine penalties, have been awarded more during that period.
Rodrigo Muniz's late goal continued his impressive record as a substitute. Seven of his last nine Premier League goals have come when he has been introduced from the bench. This is the highest number of goals scored by a substitute in the Premier League since the start of the previous season, underlining his impact as a game-changer.
The draw provides a valuable point for both teams early in the season. Brighton will look to build on their dominant performance and convert their chances more effectively in future matches. Fulham, meanwhile, will be buoyed by their late comeback and will seek to improve their overall performance as the season progresses.