In a thrilling encounter at the Amex Stadium, Brighton & Hove Albion snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory against Fulham thanks to Joao Pedro's penalty deep into stoppage time, propelling them closer to a coveted Champions League spot.

The Brazilian forward, in fine form, earned the penalty after a smart challenge on Fulham's Harrison Reed, allowing him to slot the ball into the corner of the net. This goal marked Pedro's third consecutive match on the scoresheet, a personal milestone in the Premier League.

The match started with an early flourish from Fulham as Raul Jimenez opened the scoring with a stunning volley following a chest control at the far post, giving the visitors a brief lead. However, Brighton quickly retaliated six minutes later with a well-placed header from Jan Paul van Hecke, leveling the score and shifting the momentum.

Fatigue played a noticeable role in the match, as both teams had just endured a grueling 120 minutes in the FA Cup the previous Sunday. Brighton managed to shake off their fatigue more effectively, showing marked improvement in the second half and having two goals disallowed for offside before finally claiming victory in dramatic fashion.

With this win, Brighton surged to sixth place in the Premier League, just one point behind fourth-place Manchester City, who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot. On the other hand, Fulham's ninth spot remains precarious, now trailing Brighton by four points.

Fulham had been buoyed by their strong away form, boasting the sixth-best record on the road, but their inability to capitalize on their early lead marked a disappointing day. After Jimenez's goal, they struggled to generate meaningful offensive opportunities, failing to register another shot on target as their five-match winning streak away from home came to an abrupt halt.

The Cottagers needed to harness their attacking prowess—having scored in their previous 13 Premier League games—including Jimenez’s opener—but they couldn't maintain their offensive rhythm against a determined Brighton defense.

In retrospect, while a draw may have been a satisfactory result against an ambitious Brighton side, this setback considerably dims Fulham's aspirations for a top-four finish. The football world now watches eagerly as Brighton continues to pursue their Champions League dreams, making each match a riveting chapter in this season's story.