Sunderland suffered a third straight home defeat as Brighton benefitted from Yankuba Minteh's scruffy second-half strike to win 1-0 and leapfrog their hosts to move into the top half of the Premier League.
Minteh stunned the Stadium of Light when he squeezed the ball past Sunderland goalkeeper Melker Ellborg at the near post. The winger, making his first start of 2026 in the absence of Kaoru Mitoma, was off balance and almost certainly aiming to cross.
Sunderland's Habib Diarra being down when the goal went in only added to the confusion. He was fuming an apparent push from Lewis Dunk was not deemed foul-worthy by the officials, but the midfielder appeared to make the most of minimal contact.
VAR checked and clear the incident along with a potential offside from Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke, who was blocking the view of Sunderland's goalkeeper Ellborg, but played on by the home side's captain Granit Xhaka.
Sunderland, who had a goal ruled out by VAR for offside 10 minutes earlier, needed a response after their shock FA Cup exit to League One strugglers Port Vale but sent their supporters away disappointed ahead of next Sunday's Tyne-Wear derby.
Chris Rigg, the Sunderland midfielder, thought he had scored his first Premier League goal four minutes after the restart when he found the back of the net from Omar Alderete's nod down only for it to be chalked off because the defender had strayed offside.
Ellborg may have been culpable for Brighton's goal but he produced a super first-half save with his leg to keep out Jack Hinshelwood from point blank-range. Brighton required the slice of luck from Minteh, who ended a 20-game barren run in the league.
Brighton captain Dunk, back from a brief absence, started his 500th game for the club and cleared off the line from Chemsdine Talbi in the first half, the closest Sunderland came all afternoon, despite having 14 shots on goal.
Having reached mid-February without losing at the Stadium of Light, Regis Le Bris' side have now lost three in a row at home and go to Newcastle next week with their heads down and question marks over the fitness of Dan Ballard after he was forced off.
Brighton join Sunderland on 40 points and move above them into 10th thanks to their superior goal difference after recording successive Premier League away wins for the first time since the end of last season.
Brighton goalscorer Yankuba Minteh:
"I wanted to cross the ball and I just saw it in the net. I'll take it!
"It is the strangest goal I have ever scored!"
Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler:
"We played a really good first half, We weren't efficient and effective enough with our finishing. Second half, we struggled in the first few minutes, then the goal came out of nowhere.
"It was a bit lucky, but we deserved the luck and after that we defended well and controlled the game. I am very pleased with how the group stuck together.
"Not everything was perfect, but we showed a good togetherness and found a way to overcome difficult phases."
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris:
"We want to finish strongly, but we have injuries. The group is small but it gives opportunities for young lads to step up.
"For a young squad like ours in this difficult moment - I repeat with injuries, we won a week ago at Leeds - but we have to stay strong and show great togetherness and we need support otherwise we won't progress.
"This league is relentless. You face a big team every week, well organised, with different qualities. We need to learn.
"I won't say it is a difficult period. We reached 40 points last week. When you lose you're disappointed, it is normal."
