Maupay v Palace wins Brighton Last Minute Goal of the Season 2021-22

Brighton loved a late goal in the 2021-22 season and none was celebrated more wildly than Neal Maupay equalising away at Crystal Palace in the 95th minute.

The Albion struck six goals in injury time across the campaign, meaning that the Last Minute Goal of the Season could be reinstated as a category at the WAB Awards for the first time since the 2016-17 season.

Maupay ended up winning the vote by an landslide, securing over 65 percent for a special goal which sparked special scenes and an absolute meltdown from Wilfried Zaha and all our friends from Croydon.

Palace were leading 1-0 with the final whistle imminent having been much the better side over the previous 94 minutes and 30 seconds.

When Shane Duffy challenged Vicente Guaita from an aerial ball into the Palace box, the Eagles goalkeeper took it upon himself to start time wasting by rolling around on the floor as if he had just been hit by a truck.

Guaita probably thought he was being very clever in earning a questionable free kick through acting skills which are unlikely to put him in the running to be Daniel Craig’s replacement as Bond. Little did he know what was to happen next.

All Guaita had to do was put the resulting free kick into a harmless position. Out of play, 80 yards down the pitch towards Robert Sanchez… basically do anything but shank it straight to Joel Veltman on the halfway line.

Veltman cushioned a volley back over the top of the Palace defence, the ball bounced (why did they let it bounce?) and Maupay raced clear before lobbing over Guaita with the coolest finish of the season.

Maupay was naturally a complete shithouse in the bedlam that followed. He cupped his ears to the Palace family stand, causing Zaha to have a tantrum.

Poor, ickle Wilf. It was okay for him to goad the Albion support when giving Palace their deserved first half lead from the penalty spot, only for him to whinge and cry about Maupay doing the same like a teenager who had just been told they cannot stay up to watch Married At First Sight.

Duffy, Lewis Dunk and Robert Sanchez all gave it large to the Holmesdale End before legging it 90 yards down the pitch.

Sanchez would go onto be booked for his troubles, before starting a mass brawl between Albion players, Palace players and then Palace fans as the teams left the pitch.

Maupay was voted as WAB Brighton Player of the Month for September 2021, largely thanks to that goal and his antics in the celebrations which followed one of the most extraordinary endings to any Palace v Brighton game.

It is a worthy winner to mark the return of the Last Minute Goal of the Season award, even if Palace fans believe that Brighton celebrating drawing with their arch rivals via a 95th minute equaliser from Maupay makes the Albion tinpot. Bless ’em.

Second place went to Leandro Trossard for his 90th minute winner away at Tottenham, completing a memorable seven days for Brighton in which they beat both Arsenal and Spurs away from home to own North London.

Unlike the Palace game when Maupay and his late goal gave Brighton a fortunate point, the Albion were well worth their victory against Antonio Conte’s top four chasers.

It looked though like they would have to settle for only a point in the April sunshine until Trossard struck late with a goal of individual beauty.

Trossard, Danny Welbeck and Adam Lallana had linked up nicely down the left as the game ticked into additional time but the danger appeared over when Lallana stumbled and was tackled.

Trossard was on high alert and managed to pick up the pieces. He collected the ball, glided past Eric Dier as if the former England international were not there and headed towards Hugh Lloris.

Using the outside of his right boot, Trossard bent an effort out of the reach of the Spurs goalkeeper and into the back of the net to give Brighton their first win away at Tottenham since 1981.

London was also the scene of the effort which finished third in the Last Minute Goal of the Season vote. The Albion had never scored a league goal at Chelsea before, making Welbeck’s 91st minute equaliser as the Albion drew 1-1 at Stamford Bridge historic as well as dramatic.

Brighton swept the ball from right to left, finding Marc Cucurella on a charge forward from the left sided centre defender in a back three position he was occupying for the first time in his Brighton career.

Cucurella hung up the perfect cross and Welbeck leapt like the proverbial salmon to put his header out of the reach of Edouard Mendy. Champions of Europe, you’re having a laugh.

WeAreBrighton.com Last Minute Goal of the Season 2021-22 – The Results

• Neal Maupay v Crystal Palace (A) – 66.90%
• Leandro Trossard v Spurs (A) – 12.57%
• Danny Welbeck v Chelsea (A) – 10.69%
• Neal Maupay v West Ham (A) – 6.64%
• Neal Maupay v Southampton (A) – 2.31%
• Leandro Trossard v Brentford (A) – 0.86%

Previous Winners: Glenn Murray (2017), Steve Sidwell (2016), Inigo Calderon (2015), Leonardo Ulloa (2014), David Lopez (2013), Will Buckley (2012)