Soccer-Ward-Prowse double ensures Southampton share spoils at Brighton

(Reuters) -Stunning long-range goals in each half from captain James Ward-Prowse helped Southampton rescue a point at Brighton & Hove Albion with a 2-2 draw in an entertaining Premier League contest at the Amex Stadium on Sunday.

Graham Potter's side were cruising thanks to an early strike from Danny Welbeck and an own goal by Mohammed Salisu, but Ward-Prowse sparked a comeback after scoring directly from a free-kick and completed it with a fierce low drive from 22 yards.

Ward-Prowse has scored 14 goals directly from free-kicks in the Premier League, four fewer than his childhood hero and former England and Manchester United midfielder David Beckham who holds the record.

"My main motivation is to meet my hero from when I was a kid. If I do get that record, hopefully he'll reach out - but there's a long way to go yet," Ward-Prowse said.

"We gifted them two goals and we felt at half-time we were very much in the game. It's frustrating when you give teams those sort of leads but we showed great character... Probably, on another day we would have nicked a third."

Brighton led with two minutes on the clock through Welbeck, who tapped into an empty net after visiting goalkeeper Fraser Forster fumbled Marc Cucurella's low cross into the box.

The Saints' Tino Livramento hit the post before Welbeck tested Forster with another powerful shot, and Brighton's Neal Maupay had a goal disallowed for offside. Livramento was then stretchered off after suddenly going to ground as he looked to challenge Brighton defender Enock Mwepu.

With half-time approaching, Brighton's Leandro Trossard sent a low ball into the box, but Forster and Salisu managed to scramble it off the line.

The Southampton defence crumbled again a minute later, however,