The Media Review: Kostoulas magic and VAR controversy against the Cherries

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The media reflects on a night of joy and despair at the Amex.

Nick Szczepanik

2026-01-20T09:40+00:00

Babis Kostoulas is congratulated by his teammates after netting his equaliser against Bournemouth. 📸 by Paul Hazlewood.

Football reporters, as this column has often pointed out, hate late goals. They mean frantic rewriting of intros while up against unforgiving early-edition deadlines, and Albion test those skills more often than most. But Monday evening’s 91st-minute moment of magic was worth waiting for.

Ben Bloom of The Guardian put into words what every Albion fan was thinking as the ball hit the Bournemouth net. “Just when it seemed that another match would be dominated by the dreariness of a debatable video assistant referee decision, a moment of majesty from Charalampos Kostoulas provided a pertinent reminder of the beauty that football can provide,” he wrote.

“With his side staring at what would have been a controversial defeat, the 18-year-old Kostoulas found himself facing away from the Bournemouth goal near the penalty spot when the ball bounced towards him in the first minute of injury time. A touch on his chest bought time to set himself, before a wonderful bicycle kick sent the Amex Stadium wild.

“It meant the spoils were shared and ensured the game was not decided by the belated award of a first-half penalty that had sent anyone of a Brighton disposition into a fury. The spot-kick had not initially been given – the referee, Paul Tierney, instead punishing Amine Adli for what he deemed to be a dive.

“He then changed his mind and pointed to the spot after viewing the pitchside monitor and identifying that the Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen’s leg had touched the Moroccan as he tumbled to the ground. How much contact is too much contact? Does anyone even know any more?”

Isabelle Barker of The Sun also enjoyed Babis’s wonder goal. “Charalampos Kostoulas fired home an audacious bicycle kick equaliser to lift Brighton’s spirits after a controversial VAR penalty,” she wrote.

“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 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.

An INCREDIBLE equaliser from Babis Kostoulas! 🤯 Highlights in partnership with @MPBcom. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/IKHLKHnFyc
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) January 20, 2026

“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.

“Brighton Fabian Hurzeler made a triple change with Carlos Baleba, Yankuba Minteh and Georginio Rutter coming on. Bournemouth were looking a little ragged, but they used the dark arts of time-wasting to try and see them through.

“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.”

The Daily Mail had lapped up Albion’s early dominance: “Bournemouth were just about to celebrate back-to-back Premier League wins after a run of 11 without a victory when 18-year-old Brighton sub Charalampos Kostoulas launched himself into a spectacular overhead kick to snatch a point for Fabian Hurzeler’s men.

Babis Kostoulas produced a piece of magic to ensure Albion came away with a point against the Cherries. 📸 by Sam Stephenson.

“Brighton began with a bewildering passage of interpassing that denied Bournemouth possession for most of the opening stages. But when the visitors finally got the ball, Brighton’s early confidence evaporated and they could not do a thing right.”

Ditto The Times: “Fabian Hurzeler, the Brighton head coach, has called for most consistency from his team. They can switch from sublime to slapdash within seconds and last night’s first half was the perfect illustration.

"Its opening ten minutes were in the former category and featured the first ‘Gross turn’ since the Germany playmaker’s return to Brighton – much to the delight of the crowd – and a thunderous shot by Brajan Gruda that Djordje Petrovic saved at full stretch. But then a lax touch gave possession away, Bournemouth were suddenly on the attack and Brighton went to pieces.

“Even when they forced a corner kick they somehow allowed Tavernier to run clear and when he crossed low, Amine Adli, given the first shot at replacing the departed Antoine Semenyo, fell under challenge from Verbruggen. At first referee Paul Tierney booked Adli for simulation but after consulting the monitor, awarded a penalty, which Tavernier converted.

Paul Tierney points to the spot after consulting the pitchside monitor. 📸 by James Boardman.

“Eventually Hurzeler decided to twist rather than stick, adding the pace of Yankuba Minteh and the aggression of Carlos Baleba to give Brighton two elements they had lacked so far.

“Minteh forced a fine fingertipped save from Petrovic with a first-time 18-yarder as Brighton pressed, though their increasingly desperate quest for an equaliser looked doomed. But Jan Paul van Hecke nodded down Olivier Boscagli’s cross and Kostoulas’s overhead kick flew past Petrovic.”

In The i Paper, Jon West described the penalty award as “a crime scene requiring the brain power of Hercule Poirot to unravel as VAR ended up accused of a miscarriage of justice, although teenage sub Charalampos Kostoulas’ stunning late equaliser lightened Brighton’s mood.

“Albion remained adamant the spot kick should not have been given and had a case given that Amine Adli appeared to be already in the act of committing an offence of his own. Adli had certainly been caught but had already thrown himself in the air.”

Monday night football at the Amex produced more late drama and VAR controversy. Highlights in partnership with @mpbcom. Buy, sell and trade used camera gear. https://bit.ly/MPB457

Keifer MacDonald of the BBC Sport website had a glass-half-full view of Albion’s prospects despite the two dropped points.

“After the Seagulls battled until the 91st minute to extend their unbeaten run across all competitions to five games, Hurzeler will be delighted with their spirit,” he wrote.

“The point keeps Brighton within touching reach of Chelsea, who currently occupy the Premier League's sixth and final European slot, before favourable match-ups against Fulham, Everton and Crystal Palace.

“In the end, a point flattered Brighton after a lacklustre performance. But Brighton's refusal to accept defeat could prove valuable come the business end of the season – and that alone will please Hurzeler.”