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Brighton 2-0 Bournemouth: Alireza Jahanbakhsh scores in Seagulls win

SportsBrighton 2-0 Bournemouth: Alireza Jahanbakhsh scores in Seagulls win

Alireza Jahanbakhsh had not scored a club goal since clinching the Dutch Eredivisie golden boot with a hat-trick on the final day of 2017-18

Alireza Jahanbakhsh said it was “an emotional moment” to score his first goal for Brighton as they beat relegation rivals Bournemouth in the Premier League.

The Iran winger, making his 27th appearance for the club, blasted home from 16 yards after Neal Maupay’s lay-off.

He appeared close to tears afterwards with even goalkeeper Mat Ryan running forward to join in the jubilant celebrations.

“I have been waiting for this time for a long time,” he told BBC Sport after scoring in his first Premier League start of the season. “Before the match I had a great feeling and I’m glad to help us win the game.”

Dan Burn had a second goal ruled out by the video assistant referee for a marginal offside several phases of play before he smashed home.

And Yves Bissouma struck the post as Brighton – not for the first time this season – struggled to get a second goal to kill the game off.

But the clinching strike came as Aaron Mooy controlled Leandro Trossard’s cross before firing in his first Seagulls goal.

Bournemouth only had two shots on target, with one of those coming from Junior Stanislas on his return from eight months out with a knee injury.

Graham Potter’s Brighton move three points above Bournemouth, with both clubs on a similar run of form – one win in eight before this game – and only previously separated on goals scored.

Jahanbakhsh finally ends goal drought

Potter pleased with ‘fantastic’ Brighton

Jahanbakhsh’s time in England has not gone to plan. There were high hopes for him when he joined Brighton 18 months ago, having just won the Dutch golden boot with AZ Alkmaar with 21 goals before playing at the World Cup for Iran.

But he failed to score in 25 appearances last campaign and was making his first Premier League start of the season against Bournemouth in one of seven changes from their Boxing Day defeat by Tottenham.

The 26-year-old spoke recently about wanting to work hard to get into the team