Caleb Okoli scored the equalizer as relegation-threatened Leicester City ended their eight-game losing streak and hurt Brighton’s ambitions of qualifying for Europe with a hard-earned draw.
Okoli, starting in place of the injured Wout Faes, powered a diving header from Bilal El Khannouss’ free-kick past Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen to rescue a rare point for Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side.
The Foxes had scored their first league goal since 26 January when Stephy Mavididi equalised in the first half to cancel out Joao Pedro’s penalty that had given Brighton a deserved lead.
Despite the draw, the visitors remain second from bottom of the Premier League and 14 points from safety with six games remaining.
Brazilian forward Pedro had opened the scoring from the spot just past the half-hour mark after Simon Adingra’s shot struck the arm of Leicester centre-back Conor Coady inside the box.
But seconds after Adingra brushed the top of the crossbar for the Seagulls, Mavididi capitalised on Lewis Dunk’s defensive mistake and beat Verbruggen to end the Foxes’ run of 885 minutes without a goal in the top flight.
Matt O’Riley was then denied by the woodwork again for Brighton but Leicester ended the half strongly and Verbruggen had to tip away a header from Kasey McAteer.
But it was the hosts who regained the lead early in the second half after a pull of O’Riley’s shirt by Luke Thomas in the box and Pedro slotted his spot-kick into the top corner, giving Mads Hermansen no chance to save.
The Foxes continued to probe for a way back and after Patson Daka was denied by Verbruggen, Okoli turned home El Khannouss’ free-kick to stun Brighton.
Leicester were denied all three points by the woodwork which kept out El Khannouss’ curling effort in the closing stages.
Brighton are now winless in three matches and sit ninth, seven points adrift of the top four.
Brighton miss chance to bounce back
Brighton were on course to secure a place in Europe for only the second time but a drop in form in recent weeks has hurt their chances.
Fabian Hurzeler’s side came into this game after back-to-back defeats by Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, and looking for their first win in five games but failed to capitalise on a fast start.
The Brighton boss was without suspended centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke and injured winger Kaoru Mitoma but Adingra, starting for only the second time since 16 January, proved lively early on.
It was the Ivorian who earned the Seagulls’ first penalty when his shot from Pervis Estupinan’s cross struck the arm of Coady.
Though Pedro scored the penalty and converted again from the spot 10 minutes into the second half to restore their lead, Brighton failed to hold on to the advantage as they once again showed the frailties from their recent outings.
Hurzeler’s side next face a difficult trip to Brentford and failure to shrug off their poor form could prove costly for their European ambitions.
