Joao Pedro scores late penalty as Brighton finally beat Fulham in Premier League

Joao Pedro scored a stoppage-time penalty as Brighton finally beat Fulham in the Premier League at the 10th attempt, securing a 2-1 win.

Albion looked set to be frustrated by the Cottagers once again, having never beaten them in nine previous attempts.

But Pedro’s spot-kick at the death settled the battle of the European hopefuls in Brighton’s favour and moved them up to sixth, just a point behind Manchester City in fourth.

Raul Jimenez’s opener for Fulham had earlier been cancelled out by Jan Paul van Hecke’s towering header in the first half.

These two teams both reached the FA Cup quarter-finals last weekend after extra time and, in Fulham’s case at Manchester United, penalties.

Whether they were still feeling the effects may have contributed to a flat opening half an hour.

Yasin Ayari had a shot deflected wide and Yankuba Minteh’s effort was tipped around a post by Bernd Leno, who also held Pedro’s drive from the edge of the box.

For Fulham, Emile Smith Rowe’s shot through the legs of Van Hecke flew just wide.

But the deadlock was broken in the 35th minute after a moment of inspiration from Alex Iwobi, who outstripped Pervis Estupinan and Ayari down the right wing.

Iwobi’s looping cross flew just over the head of Van Hecke and straight on to the chest of Jimenez.

The Mexico striker controlled it superbly with his first touch, before lashing the ball left-footed past Seagulls keeper Bart Verbruggen from a tight angle with his second.

But six minutes later Van Hecke made amends when he was left unmarked in the opposition area to haul Brighton level.

The Dutch centre-half arrived at the far post to power a header from Ayari’s free-kick across Leno and in off the opposite upright.

After the break Pedro played a neat