CHARALAMPOS KOSTOULAS fired home an audacious bicycle kick equaliser to lift Brighton’s spirits after a controversial VAR penalty.
Jaws hit the deck when the Greek 18-year-old, who had not long come off the bench, took a touch, with his back to goal, to tee himself up for a contender for goal of the season on 90 minutes.
The Amex had turned into a bear pit last night and it all began on the half-hour mark as Amine Adli bulldozed towards goal but was clipped on his thigh by an onrushing Bart Verbruggen.
Referee Paul Tierney initially waved penalty shouts away, and booked Adli for simulation.
But VAR urged him to have another look and after a lengthy consultation with the monitor, he changed his mind – prompting a cacophony of boos in the Amex.
Tavernier stepped up and danced his twinkle toes on the spot before slotting a low drive into the corner on 31 minutes.
WELL DONE DOU
Classy moment ex-Chelsea star Kalidou Koulibaly refuses to lift Afcon trophy
TRANSPORTER
Win a VW Campervan + £2,000 or £36,000 cash from just 23p with our code
Adli’s booking for diving was also rescinded as the away fans jumped for joy in their cosy, nook of the Amex.
Brighton had looked the brighter side early on with a number of tiki-taka-esque passing sequences between the likes of Pascal Gross, Brajan Gruda and Danny Welbeck.
One sequence even resulted with German midfielder Gruda stinging the hands of Djordje Petrovic with a peach of a shot.
Bournemouth had barely had a sniff on the ball, let alone a shot, until Evanilson curled an effort towards Verbruggen who comfortably mopped up the damage.
It seemed to give the Cherries the shot in the arm they needed as the controversial penalty arrived.
Bournemouth were loving it from there and Jimenez darted into Brighton’s half before releasing Evanilson who rattled the post – but the flag went up for offside so it wouldn’t have counted anyway.
Just before the stroke of half-time Evanilson nodded a header agonisingly close to goal after latching onto an inch-perfect Adrien Truffert cross.
It was no surprise when Tierney was serenaded to a rendition of “You’re not fit to referee,” from the home fans when he walked towards the tunnel at the break.
Tempers were flaring and Alex Jimenez screamed in Kaoru Mitoma’s face when he made a crucial block.
The Japanese winger, on his 100th Prem appearance, grinned and did a ‘blah blah’ gesture with his hand back at the Cherries full-back.
It was a scrappy second-half and there was then a scuffle between Jan paul Van Hecke and Alex Scott in the box.
A few minutes later, Marcos Senesi was booked for body checking Van Hecke, prompting uproar from the home supporters.
The resulting free-kick from 35 yards out was sent to the back post, but Lewis Dunk could only nod it wide of goal.
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler had seen enough and made a triple change with Carlos Baleba, Yankuba Minteh and Georginio Rutter coming on.
It was the first time that Bournemouth were looking a little ragged, but they used the dark arts of time wasting to try and see them through.
Brighton were seething as Junior Kroupi was booked for not leaving the pitch at the closest point and walking all the way across it.
Van Hecke was left screaming in frustration and his face was red with fury after then being booked by Tierney for a clean, slide tackle.
The hosts weren’t going out without a fight and Petrovic did well to push over a rasping Yankuba Minteh shot.
Kostoulas came on 77 minutes in, and just as livid Brighton fans were pouring to the nearest exits, Van Hecke teed him up to produce a moment of magic that will make them think twice about leaving early next time.