Title: “I Wanted to Cross” – Yankuba Minteh Explains the Strangest Goal of His Brighton Career
Brighton & Hove Albion winger Yankuba Minteh admitted he never intended to score the decisive goal during Albion’s victory over Sunderland AFC, describing it as the “strangest” moment of his time with Brighton & Hove Albion F.C..
The young Gambian attacker produced a moment that left fans, teammates, and even himself surprised as Brighton secured an important win away from home. What looked like a perfectly executed shot into the far corner was, according to Minteh, something entirely different.
“I wanted to cross,” he said with a smile after the match. “I saw our striker making a run and I tried to put the ball into the box. But the ball just kept going and suddenly it was in the net. It’s probably the strangest goal I’ve scored.”
The moment came during a lively attacking move from Brighton. Minteh collected the ball on the right flank, beating his marker with a quick burst of pace before lifting his head to assess his options in the penalty area. Instead of finding a teammate, however, his delivery drifted beyond everyone — including Sunderland’s goalkeeper — and curled inside the far post.
For the travelling Brighton supporters, it was a moment of confusion followed by celebration. At first, it looked like a dangerous cross that had narrowly evaded the arriving forwards. But as the ball dropped into the corner of the goal, cheers erupted in the away end.
Minteh himself looked just as surprised as anyone else.
“I was looking for someone in the middle,” he explained. “When I saw the ball go in, I didn’t know what to do. I just started laughing and celebrating with the team.”
Despite the unusual nature of the goal, it proved crucial in helping Brighton control the match. Sunderland pushed hard to respond, but Albion’s defense remained disciplined while the midfield kept possession effectively during the closing stages.
Brighton’s manager Fabian Hürzeler also joked about the goal in his post-match comments, suggesting that sometimes football rewards players even when things do not go exactly according to plan.
“Football can be funny,” Hürzeler said. “Sometimes the best passes become goals. The important thing is that Yankuba was brave enough to take on his defender and put the ball into a dangerous area.”
Minteh’s performance highlighted his growing confidence since joining Brighton. Known for his pace, direct running, and willingness to attack defenders, the winger has quickly become an exciting option in Albion’s forward line.
While the goal may not have been intentional, it added another memorable moment to his developing career in English football. More importantly, it helped Brighton maintain momentum as they continue their campaign.
For Minteh, though, the moment will always stand out for its sheer unpredictability.
“Maybe next time I will say it was a shot,” he joked. “But honestly, I was crossing.”
