Brighton had looked on course for all three points after Pascal Gross put the hosts ahead in the 28th minute, finishing from close range to cap a strong opening spell. The Seagulls largely dictated the tempo thereafter, limiting Everton’s attacking threat and creating opportunities to extend their advantage.
Kaoru Mitoma thought he had doubled Brighton’s lead in the second half with a close-range effort, but the goal was ruled out for offside. The hosts also came close in unusual fashion when James Tarkowski’s header was cleared off the line, only for replays to show it had been blocked by one of his own teammates, compounding Brighton’s frustration.
Everton struggled to gain a foothold for much of the contest, but a late tactical gamble from manager David Moyes shifted the momentum. A triple substitution injected urgency into the visitors’ play and paid dividends in the dying moments.
In the seventh minute of added time, Jake O’Brien’s effort was pushed away by Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, and Beto reacted quickest to bundle the rebound into the net. The goal, scored on the striker’s birthday, sparked wild celebrations in the away end and anger among the home supporters.
The draw leaves Brighton rueing missed chances on home soil, while Everton will take encouragement from a resilient late fightback that secured a hard-earned point despite prolonged pressure.