Brentford scored three second-half goals to edge an important Premier League victory over Luton at Gtech Community Stadium.
Neal Maupay opened the scoring and Ben Mee added a second soon after. Although Luton’s Jacob Brown pulled a goal back, Shandon Baptiste sealed a 3-1 success for Thomas Frank’s men with nine minutes remaining.
However, the Bees’ injury troubles worsened when Kristoffer Ajer picked up a knock in the warm-up, with Saman Ghoddos replacing him.
The hosts lacked any edge to their play in the first half as they struggled to play without midfield operator Mathias Jensen, who remained sidelined with an abductor injury.
Luton’s absent Alfie Doughty, who picked up a hip injury in the week, was replaced by centre-back Amari’i Bell, who slotted in as a makeshift left-wing back.
In the early stages of the contest, Bryan Mbeumo beat Jamaica international Bell on the outside, before his deft cross was dealt with by Luton’s tight defence.
Neither side registered a shot on target inside the first half hour, although Yehor Yarmoliuk came close for the hosts. The midfielder’s close-range effort took a heavy deflection off Carlton Morris before the ball narrowly missed the inside of Thomas Kaminski’s post and went out for a corner.
The Bees gained momentum from this and Mbeumo was in the thick of things again in the 37th minute. The attacker glided past his marker, driving inside, before producing a whipped curling shot which narrowly missed the target.
The six-goal man was Brentford’s only real outlet in the first half and his neat flicks and feints opened opportunities up for attack partner Yoane Wissa, who tested Kaminski moments later.
The home side came out for the second half strongly and broke the deadlock in the 49th minute.
The pacey Wissa took up a dangerous position on the left and sent a testing cross into the box. The ball cannoned off Gabriel Osho and into the path of the alert Maupay, who opened the scoring.
Frank’s half-time wisdom paid dividends for the west Londoners and they doubled their lead in the 56th minute through Mee.
Mbeumo’s corner found the head of the rising central defender, whose effort deflected off Morris and into Kaminski’s net.
Luton had paid the price for an erratic opening 10 minutes of the second half, as their defensive structure and organisation abandoned them.
However, Rob Edwards’ team sought a way back and Brown, who helped them to a first home win of the season last week, came off the bench to make it 2-1 in the 76th minute.
A week after his 83rd-minute winner against Crystal Palace, Brown cut through the middle of the Brentford backline and shot powerfully into the bottom corner of Mark Flekken’s goal.
However, in keeping with the Hatters’ day, a series of mishaps led to Brentford sealing the win five minutes later.
The ball pinballed around Luton’s penalty box and no defender managed to clear their lines before a poor parried save from Kaminski gifted Baptiste with an easy tap-in to round off the scoring.
Lazio 3-1 Napoli: Noslin hat-trick fires Biancocelesti into Coppa Italia quarter-finals
Tijjani Noslin's hat-trick booked Lazio's place in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals following a 3-1 victory over Napoli.
The Dutch forward's first treble of his career proved decisive at Stadio Olimpico, where Giovanni Simeone's strike proved nothing more than a consolation for the visitors.
Lazio were awarded a penalty in the 20th minute after Elia Caprile brought down Pedro, but the Napoli goalkeeper redeemed himself with a smart save to deny Mattia Zaccagni from 12 yards.
Nevertheless, the hosts broke through in the 32nd minute. Samuel Gigot headed Loum Tchaouna's deep centre back across goal for Noslin to nod home.
Simeone brought Napoli level four minutes later, tucking away a rebound after Christos Mandas could only parry David Neres' initial effort.
However, Noslin put Lazio back in front within five minutes after Pedro cushioned a cross neatly into his path, before completing his hat-trick early in the second half when heading home Zaccagni's centre.
Data Debrief: Another last-16 exit for Partenopei
Lazio are through to the Coppa Italia quarter-finals for a 14th consecutive season, after Noslin stole the show in Rome.
The Dutchman had never previously in his career scored two goals in the same match, let alone three.
Meanwhile, Napoli have now won just one of their last six away games in the Coppa Italia, and have exited the tournament at this stage in each of the last four seasons.
Silva hails 'amazing' Iwobi as Fulham down Brighton
Marco Silva hailed the "amazing" job Alex Iwobi did, as his brace fired Fulham to a 3-1 win over Brighton at Craven Cottage on Thursday.
The Nigeria international, playing in a more central midfield role, pounced on Bart Verbruggen's error after only four minutes to put the hosts ahead.
And he rounded out the win with a fine curling effort three minutes from time, after Matt O'Riley's luckless own goal had restored Fulham's lead following Carlos Baleba's brilliant equaliser.
Speaking to Amazon Prime, Cottagers boss Silva said of Iwobi: "This evening, we played with Alex Iwobi in a different position. He's an offensive player and did an amazing job this evening.
"It was a big three points for us in a tough game. We started in the best way possible with the early goal, but Brighton made it really difficult for us in the first half. They started with three at the back, and it made it difficult for us to connect with the wide players.
"We had chances as well. Second half, we were much better. We conceded in a moment we should prepare better for the long ball. It was a good shot from the edge of the box. [A] difficult game, but a big three points for us."
Iwobi hinted his early opener was a product of Fulham's set-up, while he revelled in giving the home fans a "gift" with his expertly taken second late on.
"We know Brighton like to play and so do we. I was able to capitalise on the high press," he said.
"We know that Brighton like to play out from the back, so we came up with a structure, and it obviously worked for the first goal. We take it, however it goes in, a goal is a goal. We wanted a goal from a set-piece because we were a real threat last season.
"It's [his second goal] a gift for Fulham and the fans. It was a good pass from Antonee Robinson, and it was a good finish."
Lewis Dunk cut a frustrated figure after the game and felt he should have been awarded a free-kick for a foul from Issa Diop leading up to Fulham's second goal.
The Brighton captain was particularly annoyed VAR failed to spot an infringement.
"It was a foul," he said. "It was the same as the one on the halfway line and in the box. I jumped for the header, and he put his hands in my back.
"How the ref or VAR can't see it, it is what it is. It was clear. It's annoying. If you watch the replay, it's a clear foul, a push in my back.
"I don't think the scoreline reflects the game. We picked ourselves up, and I thought we were the better side, but that's football.
"It baffles me sometimes how we have some people watching on a screen, and they can't get the decision right."
Fulham 3-1 Brighton: Iwobi brace the difference at Craven Cottage
Alex Iwobi was the star of the show as his brace helped Fulham to a 3-1 victory over Brighton on Thursday.
Iwobi capitalised on Bart Verbruggen's early error to get the home side off to a flying start at Craven Cottage.
Carlos Baleba finished expertly after neat work from Joao Pedro to bring Brighton level in the 56th minute, but Matt O'Riley's luckless own goal restored Fulham's lead.
And Iwobi wrapped up the points with a lovely bending effort in the closing stages to settle an entertaining contest.
Verbruggen's careless pass was pounced on by Iwobi and he side-footed home after only four minutes before Simon Adingra shot straight at Bernd Leno when he really ought to have equalised.
Rodrigo Muniz headed agonisingly wide on the stroke of half-time for Fulham but Baleba levelled for Brighton with an exquisite drilled finish from Joao Pedro's sublime flick into his path after 56 minutes.
But Fulham did well to reset and Andrea Pereira's fine in-swinging corner found the bottom corner via the backside of O'Riley before Iwobi rounded out the win by cutting in from the left and bending a fine effort past the Verbruggen into the far corner with three minutes to play.
Data Debrief: Iwobi in form as Brighton's Fulham hoodoo continues
Iwobi was the difference-maker in what had been a very tight contest at Craven Cottage and he has now scored (3) or assisted in or assisted (2) in each of his last four Premier League appearances, his longest such run in the competition.
This was only the second time the Nigeria international had managed to score twice in a Premier League game in what was his 267th appearance in the competition.
Brighton, meanwhile, have now faced Fulham nine times in the Premier League and failed to beat them. The Cottagers have five wins and four draws versus the Seagulls, the most they have faced a side without losing in the competition.
The visitors were the architects of their own downfall for the first goal and only Southampton (9) have had more errors leading to goals in the Premier League this season than Brighton (6), with Verbruggen responsible for three of those – the joint-most by a player in the competition in 2024-25.
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