Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 Newcastle United Player Ratings: Late Alexander Isak penalty saves the day for the Magpies

Brighton & Hove Albion played out a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United at the Amex Stadium on Sunday, 4 May 2025. Yankuba Minteh gave the hosts a lead in the first half, but a late Alexander Isak penalty allowed the Magpies to at least go home with a point.

The game started in a relatively cagey fashion, with both sides cancelling each other out in the midfield battle. Harvey Barnes managed to get to the end of the first chance as he darted into the box in the 11th minute, but dragged his shot wide of the post. Jacob Murphy got into a dangerous area three minutes later, but his dangerous cross was cleared away by Bart Verbruggen.

Joe Willock managed to drive his way into the penalty area in the 27th minute, but his effort grazed past the goal. The visitors were made to pay for their sloppiness in the 28th minute, when Yankuba Minteh managed to trick multiple players before swooping a shot into the top corner and making it 1-0. The Magpies started pushing for an equalizer, with Paul van Hecke making a key clearance to deny Alexander Isak in the 35th minute. Bruno Guimaraes managed to get some shooting space two minutes later, but his effort was also blasted wide as the Seagulls held off Newcastle in the first half.

The Magpies came out storming after the break and started dominating the majority of the possession in their hopes of getting a goal. They seemed to have a penalty in the 59th minute after substitute Anthony Gordon was fouled by Tariq Lamptey, but VAR realized that he was fouled outside the box. Harvey Barnes was able to get at the end of a chance five minutes later, only for his shot to be saved.

Alexander Isak tried an ambitious backheel attempt in the 68th minute, only to see it easily thwarted. Newcastle had another penalty call in the 72nd minute after Joe Willock went down inside the box, but VAR realised that he had simulated and called off the penalty. Minteh was able to burst into the box in the 80th minute, but his shot was expertly denied.

Newcastle United finally received a penalty in the 89th minute, which was coolly disposed of by Isak to make it 1-1. Both sides had their chances to win it in stoppage time. Brighton substitute Diego Gomez put an open header wide late on, before Callum Wilson had a powerful shot tipped over the bar as well, with the points being shared and Newcastle failing to move into the Premier League top-3. Here are the Brighton Hove Albion vs Newcastle United Player Ratings.

Brighton & Hove Albion Player Ratings

GK – Bart Verbruggen – 7.5/10

The Dutchman was sharp in his goal. He made a few crucial saves to frustrate the visitors and was reliable in thwarting their aerial threat too. Unable to do much about the penalty. Made a huge save in stoppage time to deny Wilson.

RB – Mats Wieffer – 7.5/10

The 25-year-old did a splendid job against Barnes, winning seven duels and making three tackles to stifle the left-wing threat. He also provided a nice pass to help set up Minteh’s goal, but was taken off early in the second half.

CB – Lewis Dunk – 6.5/10

Dunk held together a pretty sturdy backline, doing a good job in marking Isak, too. He made several important clearances and was sharp in moving the ball forward.

CB – Paul van Hecke – 6.5/10

Van Hecke was proactive in his half, getting into the right places to ruin Newcastle’s plans. He won several key duels and popped up with nice clearances to fend off danger.

LB – Pervis Estupinan – 7/10

The Ecuadorian was energetic on the left, being disciplined and alert with his defending. He came up with several important tackles and interceptions, not allowing the visitors to create much from the right.

CM – Carlos Baleba – 6/10

Baleba was sharp enough to regain possession quite a few times, but his passing wasn’t the most impactful. He struggled to stop Newcastle’s dominance in midfield, too.

CM – Jack Hinshelwood – 5.5/10

Like Baleba, Hinshelwood was also not comfortable with Newcastle’s players flooding the midfield battle. He helped out defensively by making a few key challenges, but couldn’t create much.

RW – Yankuba Minteh – 8.5/10

Minteh was a thorn with his speedy movement and ability to dart into the key areas. He proved his quality with a moment of brilliance in which he tricked multiple players for his impressive goal. A constant threat to the counterattacks because of his pace.

AM – Matt O’Riley – 5/10

O’Riley had a tough job in the advanced midfield role. He couldn’t create anything noteworthy in the match and lost the ball on quite a few occasions, putting his side under pressure.

LW – Simon Adingra – 6/10

Adingra moved the ball around pretty nicely and was a threat on the counterattacks because of his speedy nature. But he couldn’t pop up anything special in the final third or test the goalkeeper.

CF – Danny Welbeck – 5.5/10

Welbeck had a pretty frustrating outing. He hardly saw much of the ball in the box, often having to work as a link-up option. Couldn’t get any shots away at the opposition’s goal.

SUB – Tariq Lamptey – 5/10

Lamptey didn’t prove to be as good as Wieffer. He was often outwitted by Gordon and nearly conceded a penalty for his side.

SUB – Joel Veltman – 5/10

Veltman couldn’t help his side get the job done, struggling to keep Newcastle quiet in the second half.

SUB – Yasin Ayari – 4/10

Made a stupid error that resulted in the penalty, raising his arm in an unnatural position for the penalty.

SUB – Diego Gomez – 4/10

Missed an open header from a free-kick in stoppage time.

SUB – Brajan Gruda –N/R

Couldn’t make an impact with his late cameo.

Manager – Fabian Hurzeler – 5.5/10

Hurzeler set up his side pretty well ot take the fight to the Magpies, as their impressive pressing and counter-attacking threat helped Brighton take the lead. However, his decision to sit back and let the visitors dictate the game after the break ultimately resulted in his players making an error to concede late on. His substitutes had a pretty poor impact too.

Also Read: Arsenal 1–2 Bournemouth Player Ratings: Evanilson’s Winner Completes a Famous Comeback as Bournemouth Do the Double Against Arsenal

Newcastle United Player Ratings

GK – Nick Pope – 6.5/10

Pope couldn’t do much about Minteh’s goal because of its sheer power. Made a huge save to deny Minteh in the second half and moved the ball forward well.

RB – Kieran Trippier – 7/10

Tripper was pretty good with his defensive work, making eight clearances and winning some key duels too. But he couldn’t create any major chances with his crosses.

CB – Fabian Schar – 6.5/10

Schar was sharp and composed on the defensive side, winning some important duels and moving the ball forward pretty well. Ruined quite a few Brighton attacks with his clever positioning.

CB – Dan Burn – 7/10

Burn used his physique around to frustrate Welbeck, marking him sharply and making nine clearances to fend off Brighton’s threat. His positioning could’ve been better for the Minteh goal.

LB – Tino Livramento – 4.5/10

Livramento had a difficult time dealing with the tricky Minteh, not being able to neutralize his threat at all. He made some nice challenges, but was outwitted multiple times and bewildered by Minteh’s goal.

CM – Sandro Tonali – 7.5/10

The Italian midfielder did a solid job in ensuring his side dominated the midfield battle and controlled possession. He passed the ball forward sharply and won quite a few duels.

CM – Bruno Guimaraes – 6.5/10

The Newcastle skipper was quite energetic in the opposition half, as he was able to create a few big chances with his slick delivery. Moved the ball along nicely and regained possession quite often, too.

CM – Joe Willick – 6.5/10

Willock was a proactive figure in the Brighton half, carrying the ball along nicely to drive his side forward on the attack. He also worked hard defensively, regaining possession at regular intervals. Got booked for simulation while trying to earn a penalty.

RW – Jacob Murphy – 4/10

Murphy had quite a forgettable afternoon at the Amex Stadium. He passed it around decently, but had very little creative threat and couldn’t test the opposition goalkeeper either.

LW – Harvey Barnes – 5/10

Barnes was not able to be the driving figure he normally is in the wide areas. He had a shot go wide early on, but lacked any creative threat after that and wasn’t able to test the goalkeeper either.

CF – Alexander Isak – 7/10

Isak’s threat was pretty much neutralized by the Brighton backline. He linked up nicely with his teammates to drive them forward, and he got his goal by slotting away the penalty clinically.

SUB – Anthony Gordon – 7/10

Gordon added some much-needed energy to his side’s attack with his blistering forward runs and impressive incisiveness. Raised his side’s momentum levels to go and grab a late equalizer.

SUB – Callum Wilson – 6/10

Wilson was able to add a bit more aggressiveness to his side’s attack. Got a big chance in stoppage time, but his powerful effort was denied.

SUB – Sven Borman – N/R

Helped his side get through the late drama and not concede any late goals.

SUB – Emil Krafth – N/R

Looked sharp late on.

Manager – Eddie Howe – 6/10

The Englishman could not get his side firing on all cylinders from the get-go, as his decision to push too many players forward resulted in quite a few dangerous counter-attacks. However, he got things right in the second half, and Gordon’s arrival added a burst of energy that motivated his side. Pushed his side to at least get a point from the game.

Sportsdunia’s Man of the Match goes to Yankuba Minteh.

Also Read: RB Leipzig 3–3 Bayern Munich Player Ratings: Late Poulsen Goal Stops Bavarians from Celebrating the Bundesliga Title Win