Beto snatches last-gasp equaliser for Everton to spark Moyes sprint and frustrate Brighton

David Moyes could not contain himself. As the ball hit the back of the net after substitute Beto had bundled in the equaliser in the seventh minute of injury time, the Everton manager set off. Moyes may be 63 years old in a couple of months but he sprinted towards the away supporters in sheer delight as his players celebrated on the pitch.

Somehow Everton’s unbeaten record here that stretches back to 2019 is still intact. It had seemed that a goal from Pascal Gross would be enough for Brighton to claim victory after they had spurned a number of chances in the first half. But while it is one thing to plan how you are going to overcome a team managed by Moyes, it’s not quite so easy in practice.

For Fabian Hürzeler this was a bitter pill to swallow. It is now only one win in their past 11 Premier League games and hopes of another European campaign are quickly evaporating. His team left the pitch to boos, although they were mainly directed at the referee, Chris Kavanagh, for playing beyond the allotted six minutes of added time.

Moyes deployed 6ft 5in Jarrad Branthwaite at left-back as the England defender made his first start of the season after returning from a long-term injury layoff as a substitute against Leeds last weekend. Michael Keane was back from suspension to make up an intimidating-looking Everton back four alongside James Tarkowski and Jake O’Brien.

Brighton were far too slick for them in the opening exchanges and almost went ahead twice in the opening three minutes. Gross was unlucky to see his volley from Ferdi Kadıoglu’s cross deflect wide before Danny Welbeck’s improvised backheel was well saved by Jordan Pickford. Moyes was left scratching his head in disbelief when Welbeck directed a corner just past the post under barely any pressure from Everton’s defenders.

They were bystanders again moments later when Kaoru Mitoma brilliantly exchanged passes with Welbeck but could only poke his shot wide of the far post with Pickford already committed. With the imposing Carlos Baleba and Yasin Ayari – who was the subject of a failed £20m bid from Nottingham Forest this week – dominating in midfield, in-form Thierno Barry was forced to live off scraps. Iliman Ndiaye squandered a chance on the break in a rare Everton foray forward.

Yet Brighton could not sustain the intensity of the opening half an hour and Moyes will have been pleased with how his side began to frustrate the home supporters. Barry wasn’t far away from connecting with a dangerous cross after Maxim De Cuyper gave the ball away with a speculative pass inside his own half.

It was Hürzeler’s turn to look concerned as his tired-looking side struggled to recapture their rhythm. He exchanged some angry words with the fourth official as the half-time whistle sounded and headed straight down the tunnel.

Everton started the second half with far more attacking intent and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall wasn’t far away after being set up by a clever flick from Barry. Branthwaite headed wide from a long throw and was then booked for an agricultural challenge on Ayari that left the Sweden international requiring treatment.

Dewsbury-Hall should have broken the deadlock when he latched onto Barry’s cross, only for Bart Verbruggen to save with his feet. Brighton then finally found a way past Pickford when Mitoma dummied Ayari’s cross and Gross – who rejoined Brighton earlier this month from Borussia Dortmund – made no mistake.

Mitoma had a goal ruled out for offside after a free-kick from Gross was headed back across and it proved to be a vital moment. O’Brien’s shot was saved but the ball fell straight to Beto whose finish sent Moyes off on his victory jig.