Moussa Djenepo broke Brighton's resistance moments after entering the fray as a second-half substitute
Moussa Djenepo scored moments after coming on as a substitute to help Southampton secure their first win of the season at Brighton, who had Florin Andone sent off.
The 21-year-old Malian broke the deadlock in the second half, cutting inside from the left wing before curling a sumptuous effort past Mat Ryan and into the far corner.
Southampton sealed the points in second-half stoppage time when Nathan Redmond slid home Sofiane Boufal's cross from close range.
Brighton had been reduced to 10 men on the half-hour mark when Andone was shown a straight red card following a high, rash challenge on Saints defender Yan Valery.
The Seagulls had looked comfortable up to that point, with Neal Maupay and Martin Montoya going close to breaking the deadlock in the first half.
Lewis Dunk thought he had given the hosts the lead seven minutes before the interval, but the goal was ruled out by VAR for offside against defender Dan Burn.
Second-half substitute Jurgen Locadia struck the post for Brighton late on, but Redmond's late goal sealed the points for the visitors.
Seagulls fade following Andone dismissal
After narrowly avoiding relegation last season, Brighton have made a solid start to life under former Swansea City manager Graham Potter.
An eye-catching 3-0 opening-day win at Watford was followed by a 1-1 home draw with West Ham, in which summer signing Leandro Trossard delivered a man-of-the-match display.
The Belgian was heavily involved early on at the Amex Stadium, teeing up Neal Maupay whose tame effort was easily held by Southampton goalkeeper Angus Gunn.
The 24-year-old's in-swinging cross was headed wide by Martin Montoya soon afterwards as Potter's side continued to turn the screw.
However, the game swung the visitors' way when Andone was dismissed following a rash challenge that left Valery writhing in agony near the half-way line.
The Seagulls responded well initially, with Lewis Dunk's header chalked off by VAR, but Southampton capitalised on their numerical advantage in the second half.
Potter's side almost equalised moments before Redmond's strike when Locadia latched onto Glenn Murray's flick-on, but the Dutchman sliced his effort against the frame of the goal as the Saints held on to inflict a first defeat on the new Brighton boss.
Djenepo's instant impact
Southampton responded to their 3-0 reverse at Burnley on the opening day with a much-improved performance in defeat to Liverpool last weekend.
Ralph Hasenhuttl's side matched the European champions for large parts at St Mary's but failed to take their chances, with Danny Ings missing a glorious opportunity to equalise in second-half stoppage time.
The Saints failed to register a shot on target prior to Andone's dismissal, despite seeing plenty of the ball.
Indeed, the closest they came to a breakthrough in the first half was when Redmond's low shot from the edge of the box was held by Ryan.
Djenepo, who made his debut for the club against Liverpool last weekend, replaced Valery eight minutes into the second half and made an immediate impact, curling past Ryan just two minutes after entering the fray.
Second-half substitute Stuart Armstrong was thwarted by Ryan late on, but Redmond's strike - following fine play by Boufal - sealed the win.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Brighton
1Ryan
4Duffy
5Dunk
33Burn
22MontoyaBooked at 89mins
6StephensSubstituted forGroßat 78'minutes
24Pröpper
20MarchSubstituted forLocadiaat 68'minutes
7MaupaySubstituted forMurrayat 74'minutes
10AndoneBooked at 30mins
11Trossard
Substitutes
9Locadia
13Groß
15Webster
17Murray
18Mooy
27Button
30Bernardo
Southampton
28Gunn
43ValerySubstituted forDjenepoat 53'minutesBooked at 62mins
35Bednarek
4Vestergaard
38Danso
14Romeu
23HøjbjergBooked at 82mins
16Ward-ProwseBooked at 21mins
22Redmond
10AdamsSubstituted forBoufalat 80'minutes
9IngsSubstituted forArmstrongat 84'minutes
Substitutes
1McCarthy
2Cédric Soares
3Yoshida
12Djenepo
17Armstrong
19Boufal
20Obafemi
Referee:
Kevin Friend
Attendance:
30,019
Match Stats
Home TeamBrightonAway TeamSouthampton
Possession
Home51%
Away49%
Shots
Home12
Away12
Shots on Target
Home3
Away4
Corners
Home8
Away5
Fouls
Home9
Away10
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Southampton 2.
Full TimePosted at 90'+6'
Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Southampton 2.
Posted at 90'+5'
Attempt missed. James Ward-Prowse (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
Posted at 90'+4'
Foul by Lewis Dunk (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Posted at 90'+4'
Sofiane Boufal (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 90'+2'
Dan Burn (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 90'+2'
Foul by James Ward-Prowse (Southampton).
Goal!Posted at 90'+1'
Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Southampton 2. Nathan Redmond (Southampton) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Sofiane Boufal.
Posted at 90'+1'
Attempt saved. Stuart Armstrong (Southampton) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Nathan Redmond.
BookingPosted at 89'
MartÃn Montoya (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 89'
Foul by MartÃn Montoya (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Posted at 89'
Moussa Djenepo (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 88'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Posted at 87'
Delay in match because of an injury Jan Bednarek (Southampton).
Posted at 86'
Jürgen Locadia (Brighton and Hove Albion) hits the left post with a left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box. Assisted by Glenn Murray following a corner.
Posted at 86'
Attempt missed. Glenn Murray (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Pascal Groß with a cross following a corner.
Posted at 86'
Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Jan Bednarek.
Posted at 85'
Lewis Dunk (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 85'
Foul by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Southampton).
SubstitutionPosted at 84'
Substitution, Southampton. Stuart Armstrong replaces Danny Ings.
Posted at 83'
Foul by Glenn Murray (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Posted at 83'
Angus Gunn (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
BookingPosted at 82'
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 82'
MartÃn Montoya (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 82'
Foul by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Southampton).
SubstitutionPosted at 80'
Substitution, Southampton. Sofiane Boufal replaces Che Adams.
SubstitutionPosted at 78'
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Pascal Groß replaces Dale Stephens.
Posted at 75'
Davy Pröpper (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 75'
Foul by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Southampton).
SubstitutionPosted at 74'
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Glenn Murray replaces Neal Maupay.
Posted at 72'
Attempt missed. Davy Pröpper (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Leandro Trossard.
Posted at 70'
Jürgen Locadia (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 70'
Foul by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Southampton).
SubstitutionPosted at 68'
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Jürgen Locadia replaces Solly March.
Posted at 68'
Attempt missed. Danny Ings (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Jannik Vestergaard following a corner.
Posted at 67'
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Lewis Dunk.
Posted at 66'
Attempt blocked. Che Adams (Southampton) right footed shot from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Jannik Vestergaard.
Posted at 66'
Attempt missed. Jannik Vestergaard (Southampton) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by James Ward-Prowse with a cross following a corner.
Posted at 65'
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Lewis Dunk.
Posted at 65'
Attempt blocked. Moussa Djenepo (Southampton) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Nathan Redmond.
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Source: bbc.com