Brighton avoided becoming Newport’s latest FA Cup giant killing victims as they scraped through on 4-3 penalties with goalkeeper Jason Steele saving an incredible four spot kicks.
The game never should have reached a shootout with Steele having made an error to allow the Seagulls’ opponents to make it 1-1 in the final seconds of normal time.
AFP
All the drama took place late in the game with the League Two side keeping their Premier League opponents at bay for most of the game.
Padraig Amond should have put Newport ahead inside four minutes after racing on to Lewis Dunk’s weak back pass, but the cup specialist sent his effort wide of the far post.
Brighton gradually took control and Tom King denied Dunk, Mac Allister and Yves Bissouma before making an incredible point-blank stop to foil Zeqiri.
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Newport came within inches of scoring when Amond pounced on goalkeeper Steele’s mistake and his lob was hooked off the line by Dunk, the Brighton centre-back ensuring it remained goalless at the break.
The tie looked set for extra time before Solly March broke Newport hearts with a fine curling effort in the 90th minute to put Brighton ahead.
However, Newport incredibly levelled with the final touch of the game as Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele failed to make any contact with a right-wing cross, which inadvertently hit defender Adam Webster’s chest and rolled into the empty net.
AFP
This forced the game into extra-time and with neither side able to find a winner it went down to penalties.
King had to produce another great save to deny Dunk with diving save to his left while Dunk was the hero at the other end when he blocked a shot with his head in the dying seconds.
In the shootout, Steele made amends for his mistake late on by saving four of the spot kicks.
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