Late burst sees Brighton past Oxford in EFL Cup
Sky Bet Championship side Brighton continued their impressive start to the season with a 4-2 victory at League 1 Oxford.
Three goals in nine minutes late on earned the Seagulls a place in the EFL Cup third round.
Kazenga LuaLua struck with a brilliant low drive from 25 yards in the 76th minute with the sides locked at 1-1.
Elvis Manu effectively wrapped it up on 82 minutes from close range, from Oliver Norwood's pass.
And moments later, on 85 minutes, substitute Tomer Hemed struck again from close in to make it 4-1.
The Seagulls had got off to a dream start with left-back Sam Adekugbe racing down the left to collect Manu's pass and rifling an angled shot into the roof of the net after just 69 seconds.
Lualua then fired over after the left of Oxford's defence was this time carved open.
And at this stage it looked as if Brighton were heading for a repeat of their 4-0 drubbing of the U's in a pre-season friendly just three weeks ago.
But Wes Thomas levelled on 22 minutes, following up to shoot past Brighton goalkeeper Niki Maenpaa after Adekugbe blocked Kane Hemmings' shot on the line.
John Lundstram struck the bar for the U's and Dan Crowley scored a stoppage-time consolation for Oxford, but Albion had finished strongly to book their spot in the next round.
Source: PA
