Ryan rescues Brighton with incredible double save
Mat Ryan provided a telling reminder of his importance to Brighton and Hove Albion with a stunning double save that rescued a point against Everton.
The Socceroos goalkeeper endured a tough initiation into the Premier League with several high-profile errors that saw him cop his fair share of criticism from fans.
But the Aussie is beginning to repay the faith shown in him by Seagulls manager Chris Hughton, and his heroics earned Brighton a precious point at home to the Toffees on Sunday.
With the Merseysiders in full throttle after former England skipper Wayne Rooney equalised with a 90th-minute penalty, the Socceroos No.1 made a couple of stunning saves to thwart the visitors.
In almost the last play of the match, Ryan denied Kevin Mirallas twice in one movement - the second stop on a follow-up shot with his legs breathtaking.
Earlier the Seagulls looked on course to take all three points from a drab match when Anthony Knockaert pounced on a loose ball and fired home eight minutes from fulltime.
But Brighton defender Bruno caught Dominic Calvert-Lewin with an elbow in the final minute, giving Rooney the opportunity to gain a point for Ronald Koeman's side, whose difficult start to the season continued.
The draw moves both teams on to eight points and lifts them one place in the table, Brighton to 14th and Everton to 16th.
"At least we got one point - I think a point well deserved," Koeman said. "We were the better team. Most of the time we had good ball possession. Maybe we had to create a bit more."
Rooney was returning to the starting line-up after being dropped for Everton's last league match, a 1-0 home defeat to Burnley.
The visitors enjoyed the bulk of the possession, but struggled to create clear-cut chances and the best opportunities of the match prior to Knockaert's opener both fell to Brighton.
Everton defender Michael Keane, however, made crucial blocks to deny Lewis Dunk in the first half and Knockaert in the second.
"(I am) incredibly disappointed at this moment, because of the timing it feels more like a defeat," Brighton manager Chris Hughton said.
"We were up against a very good Everton team, but at that stage I couldn't see them scoring."
Later, Manolo Gabbiadini earned Southampton a point by scoring both goals in a 2-2 draw with Newcastle at St Mary's.
The Italian striker equalised twice for the hosts, first with a fine solo effort in the 49th minute to cancel out Isaac Hayden's first-half opener.
Newcastle regained the lead two minutes later through Ayoze Perez, but Gabbiadini replied from the penalty spot in the 75th minute after Shane Long had been brought down by Florian Lejeune.
Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez was disappointed his side could not give the club's travelling fans a win to smile about.
"My big disappointment was for the fans. It was a pity because we couldn't get three points so they could go back happy," he said.
"It was difficult but at least we got a point. We can be better and hopefully we will be better but we have to defend better."