Caltex Socceroos keeper Mat Ryan played a starring role as Brighton and Hove Albion earned a thrilling 2-2 draw with Bournemouth in the English Premier League on Tuesday (AEDT).
The Aussie shot-stopper made a series of quality saves throughout the contest as the Seagulls secured their second consecutive draw in the league.
Brighton took an early lead through Anthony Knockaert before Ryan was forced to make a smart stop to deny a powerful strike from Jordan Ibe on the half hour mark.
But there was little Ryan could do just three minutes later when Bournemouth’s Steve Cook buried a well-taken header from a corner.
The Aussie was again drawn into two crucial saves just before the break, first denying a rasping Charlie Daniels free kick before repelling a low drive from Marc Pugh.
Brighton regained the lead less than three minutes after the break with Glenn Murray finishing from close range after neat build-up from Jose Izquierdo.
Ryan preserved Brighton’s advantage with a superb save to deny Jordan Ibe with 20 minutes remaining.
But a sloppy piece of defending gifted the Cherries the equaliser less than 10 minutes later, with Callum Wilson bundling home a loose ball from a scramble in the box.
The draw leaves Brighton in 12th spot on the EPL table.
Elsewhere, Aaron Mooy played a full game but couldn’t prevent Huddersfield Town from falling to a 3-0 loss at Leicester City.
Second-half goals to Riyad Mahrez, Islam Slimani and Marc Albrighton proved decisive for the Foxes.
