Match ends, Newport County 1(3), Brighton and Hove Albion 1(4).
Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele went from villain to hero with four penalty saves as they beat Newport 4-3 in an FA Cup third-round shootout at Rodney Parade after an entertaining 1-1 draw.
Steele saved from Josh Sheehan, Mickey Demetriou, Liam Shephard and Scot Bennett as Brighton won a 14-penalty shootout in sudden death to break the League Two side's hearts.
The Brighton goalkeeper was culpable as Newport levelled in the sixth minute of injury time when he flapped at a cross and Adam Webster turned the ball into his own net.
Premier League side Brighton thought they had earned a first win in all competitions since November as Solly March's goal put them ahead in the 90th minute.
Newport goalkeeper Tom King made some outstanding saves to keep the League Two side level before the shootout, where he ended up on the losing side despite saving two spot-kicks himself.
"I am very proud, the work rate was exceptional, they stuck together and we've taken a Premier League team to penalties - I can't ask for more," Newport boss Michael Flynn told BBC Sport Wales.
"We practised penalties and didn't miss one! But it's a funny old game and you've got to credit their goalkeeper, his saves were of the highest class.
"The players have until Tuesday morning to get over this and then we move on.... because we want to get promoted.
"This cup run will help us bring more players to do that as well."
Brighton manager Graham Potter reflected on a "traumatic night" and was full of praise for the hosts.
"Traumatic was the word I would use to sum that up," he said. "Credit to Newport, they fought and fought and we wish them well for their promotion push.
"We should have won the game and seen that injury time out, but we didn't, we made a mistake.
"We adapted to a really difficult playing surface and are delighted to go through. Jason Steele pulled it out the bag for us."
Newport have punched well above their weight in the FA Cup in the past few seasons. Since a third-round win over Leeds in January 2018, they have also knocked out Leicester and Middlesbrough, and scared Tottenham and Manchester City.
So it was no surprise that they started strongly, with Padraig Amond's effort curling just wide of the post after only five minutes following Webster's poor backpass.
Backpasses that put the visitors under pressure was a theme of the first period, which ended as it started, with Amond almost scoring after a Brighton mistake.
This time Pascal Gross's pass put Steele in trouble and he presented another chance to Amond, but Lewis Dunk cleared the ball off the line as he anticipated the danger.
Brighton created enough opportunities themselves to lead - and would have done but for some inspired goalkeeping from King.
The Newport goalkeeper's 38th-minute stop to keep out Andi Zeqiri's close-range volley was simply stunning as he twisted and shifted his momentum to tip the ball over the bar.
King was also forced into action to save Dunk's header and Alexis Mac Allister's shot, and the Exiles just about deserved to be level at half-time, even though Brighton had more than 70% possession.
The second half was equally tight with Newport defending very well and in numbers, but they did get a reprieve when substitute Davy Propper fired just wide.
March fired over and Neal Maupay blasted wide as the Seagulls began to exert themselves in the closing stages, but Sheehan's thunderous shot was well saved by Steele with eight minutes remaining as Newport remained competitive.
March then struck in the final minute of normal time with a fierce drive from the edge of the penalty area - and seemed to have won the tie.
But then Steele spilled a cross, which bounced in off Webster for an equaliser that forced extra time.
King then produced another incredible save from Dunk's header in the first period of extra time, with Brighton pushing on and Newport looking increasingly leggy despite - or perhaps because of - not playing since 26 December because of the weather.
Brighton's play was neat and tidy, but largely lacking in cutting edge and Newport might have again scored at the death, as Dunk bravely blocked Kevin Ellison's shot, to signal the penalties.
The night ended with the visitors victorious as they won their ninth penalty shootout in the past 10 they have faced with Webster slamming home the decisive kick.
Line-ups
Newport
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1King
- 15Longe-King
- 8DolanSubstituted forEllisonat 90+5'minutes
- 28Demetriou
- 32Shephard
- 17Bennett
- 10Sheehan
- 3Haynes
- 7WillmottSubstituted forLabadieat 39'minutes
- 14DevittSubstituted forCollinsat 63'minutesSubstituted forProctorat 90+5'minutes
- 9AmondSubstituted forTaylorat 62'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Baker
- 4Labadie
- 5Howkins
- 18Proctor
- 21Collins
- 22Ellison
- 24Evans
- 29Taylor
- 30Townsend
Brighton
Formation 4-2-2-2
- 23Steele
- 3WhiteSubstituted forVeltmanat 108'minutes
- 5Dunk
- 4Webster
- 20MarchSubstituted forBernardoat 90+5'minutes
- 13Groß
- 8Bissouma
- 16JahanbakhshSubstituted forTauat 71'minutes
- 10Mac AllisterSubstituted forTrossardat 63'minutes
- 29ZeqiriSubstituted forPröpperat 63'minutes
- 9Maupay
Substitutes
- 11Trossard
- 22Tau
- 24Pröpper
- 26Sánchez
- 30Bernardo
- 34Veltman
- 41Sanders
- 67Khadra
- 72Jenks
- Referee:
- Lee Mason
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home28%
- Away72%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away20
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away7
- Corners
- Home3
- Away9
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Penalties over
Penalty Shootout ends, Newport County 1(3), Brighton and Hove Albion 1(4).
Post update
Goal! Newport County 1(3), Brighton and Hove Albion 1(4). Adam Webster (Brighton and Hove Albion) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.
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Penalty saved! Scot Bennett (Newport County) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom left corner.
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Goal! Newport County 1(3), Brighton and Hove Albion 1(3). Davy Pröpper (Brighton and Hove Albion) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top right corner.
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Goal! Newport County 1(3), Brighton and Hove Albion 1(2). Jamie Proctor (Newport County) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
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Penalty saved! Leandro Trossard (Brighton and Hove Albion) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the centre of the goal.
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Penalty saved! Liam Shephard (Newport County) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom right corner.
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Goal! Newport County 1(2), Brighton and Hove Albion 1(2). Lewis Dunk (Brighton and Hove Albion) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top right corner.
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Goal! Newport County 1(2), Brighton and Hove Albion 1(1). Ryan Taylor (Newport County) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the top left corner.
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Penalty missed! Still Newport County 1(1), Brighton and Hove Albion 1(1). Yves Bissouma (Brighton and Hove Albion) hits the left post with a right footed shot.
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Goal! Newport County 1(1), Brighton and Hove Albion 1(1). Joss Labadie (Newport County) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.
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Penalty saved! Neal Maupay (Brighton and Hove Albion) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom left corner.
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Penalty saved! Mickey Demetriou (Newport County) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, left footed shot saved in the bottom left corner.
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Goal! Newport County 1, Brighton and Hove Albion 1(1). Pascal Groß (Brighton and Hove Albion) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
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Penalty saved! Josh Sheehan (Newport County) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom left corner.
Penalties in progress
Penalty Shootout begins Newport County 1, Brighton and Hove Albion 1.
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Second Half Extra Time ends, Newport County 1, Brighton and Hove Albion 1.
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Corner, Newport County. Conceded by Pascal Groß.
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Attempt blocked. Kevin Ellison (Newport County) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Joss Labadie with a cross.
- All the goals and highlights from a huge Saturday of third-round matches are streaming now on BBC iPlayer
Comments
Join the conversation
Surely Newport really are everyone's 2nd favourite FA Cup team? Except Newport fans, naturally! Bravo, brave Exiles. Such a shame you fell at the final hurdle, but what a performance!!
Newport County a club with a great local following and a rich history.
If Potter moans about the pitch, can someone ask him which one Newport were playing on?
From a Seagulls man.
Well done BHA and well done Newport.
Stop whinging and just enjoy live FA cup football.
Brighton showed the gulf in class and were worthy winners, but well played Newport. No-one gets an easy game down there
He simply doesnt know what he was doing.
Hero Steele saved 4 penalties - yes he did by moving before the kick was taken and was so far off his line he nearly left the 18 yard box.
Even Newports Manager was screaming he is off his line.
Once again a team has been robbed by Masons complete incompetence
Have they forgotten how to run?
Counterattack starts, reaches midfield, where the player stops has a look around - all the while the opposition are getting into their defensive shape - then passes backwards.
Brighton got away with one this evening!
To Brighton - I would like Graham Potter to succeed - his journey has been interesting - he plays good football - but if your most likely goalscorer is Lewis Dunk - something needs fixing