Rodrigo Muniz’s late strike rescues point for Fulham at Brighton

A game with little between the sides, rustiness abounding, looked to have been won by a second-half Matt O’Riley penalty after Sander Berge’s ill-judged challenge. Fulham were made to wait for the 95th minute for a proper chance. It was volleyed wide by an aghast Kenny Tete but it would not be the last, Rodrigo Muniz smashing in a Harry Wilson corner. When all seemed lost and Brighton looked to have held Fulham at bay, the ball was allowed to travel to the second-half sub, one of those many strikers linked with Newcastle, who chested the ball down and crashed home.

For transfer devotees, the other major news was Carlos Baleba starting in Brighton’s midfield; the expectation is he stays, give or take a steeple-high offer Tony Bloom cannot refuse. Within an aggressive midfield battle, Baleba’s quality was often apparent, sweeping up for his defence one minute, supporting forwards the next. He was certainly missed when subbed off in the second half.

While the Premier League’s upper class lavish huge sums, here were two familiar teams, just one new signing in either of two members of the squeezed middle’s starting teams; Maxim De Cuyper, the left-back another signing from Brighton’s regular Belgian trade route. Little transfer movement at Fulham where only reserve goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte was a new face. Novelty was provided by Josh King, 18, who showed high promise as much the liveliest of Fulham’s attacking players.

The teenager, on the end of a hefty early challenge from Yankuba Minteh, soon showed off ball-carrying chops, the away fans calling for a penalty when Bart Verbruggen cleared him out during a breathless opening spell. Minteh did have the ball in the net, only for Baleba, his supplier, being ruled to have been beyond the byline.

The quality level was not high, both teams rushed in attempting to create opportunities, the best chance of the first half coming when O’Riley whipped the ball over for Kaoru Mitoma to head over, the type of chance a centre-forward like Danny Welbeck, sat alongside fellow veteran James Milner on the bench might gobble up.

On the sidelines, Marco Silva kept his usual morose vigil while Fabian Hurzeler split his time between bench and technical area, both having little joy as their teams laboured in that first 45. Hurzeler is still just 32 but a young man in a hurry, his summer pursuits including Spanish lessons. Silva is in the final year of his Fulham contract with barely concealed irritation at the “passive”, to use his word, lack of arrivals.

Brighton’s Matt O’Riley opens the scoring with a penalty against Fulham. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images

The second half began with King to the fore, forcing a save from Bart Verbruggen that almost spilled to Raul Jimenez. It was instead Brighton who broke the deadlock, Rutter allowed far too much space to surge into the box and be tripped by Sander Berge. O’Riley swept his kick low and left, Leno offered no answer to a well-taken spot-kick from a player linked with Juventus. It marked the 1000th Premier League goal conceded by Fulham.

Silva seethed on the sidelines at both officials and his players as his team continued to labour in their reply, King remaining their main outlet as Iwobi, last season’s standout, struggled to exert influence. As Fulham pushed on, Brighton were asked to dig in, defend deep and look to the counter. Silva was in the process of throwing on three changes in Tom Cairney, Adama Traoré and Rodrigo Muniz when Minteh blazed over the chance that might have clinched victory, Mitoma’s speedy break leaving Fulham in ribbons.

That brought Brighton changes, Baleba came off for Diego Gómez, the Paraguayan almost scored when Leno was close to spilling his long-range drive. Silva threw on Smith Rowe for King, who departed to an ovation from the away fans. Smith Rowe’s shot would force the corner that saved a point.

As Hurzeler attempted to see out the game, on came Milner, who will reach 40 in January. As 90 minutes came, another sub, Brajan Gruda, had blown another fine Brighton chance, caught in two minds whether to shoot or cross. Gomez, in employing the highest of presses on Leno, might also have scored Brighton’s second when the keeper fumbled and was then asked to make a further save of the loose ball. These were moments Brighton would come to regret.