Aaron Mooy scored a late consolation goal as Brighton and Hove Albion slumped to a 3-1 Premier League defeat against Bournemouth on Wednesday morning (AEDT).
With his side trailing 3-0, the Socceroos midfielder scored his second goal for the Seagulls nine minutes from time but it came to late to spark a fightback.
Both Mooy and Socceroos keeper Mat Ryan started for Brighton in what was a vital clash for both clubs in the battle to avoid relegation.
And it was hosts Bournemouth that came away with a priceless three points thanks to goals from Harry Wilson and Callum Wilson either side of a Pascal Gross own goal.
Mooy scored the goal of the match though with a brilliant turn and then thunderous strike from just inside the box which flew in off the post.
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The defeat means Graham Potter’s Brighton have now gone four EPL games in a row without a win to sit in 15th spot and just two points above the relegation zone.
With the FA Cup to take centre-stage this weekend, Ryan and Mooy aren’t in action again until Sunday, February 2 when Brighton travel to West Ham United.
In the Championship, Kenneth Dougall’s Barnsley slumped to a disappointing 3-0 loss at home against Preston North End.
Dougall started and played 54 minutes before being substituted as Barnsley stayed in the drop zone, four points adrift of safety.
Elsewhere, Aziz Behich played a full game for Istanbul Basaksehir as they were knocked out of the Turkish Cup by second tier Kirklareslispor.
After the first leg finished 1-1 in Istanbul, Behich’s side was unable to find a goal in the return match as it finished 0-0, meaning Basaksehir were knocked out on away goals.
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