Leeds were forced to come from behind twice against high-flying Brighton as sensational strikes from Patrick Bamford and Jack Harrison rescued a vital point despite being unable to break free of the relegation zone
 Alexis Mac Allister headed the visitors in front after creative work from Kaoru Mitoma (33) but Bamford levelled the tie seven minutes later, using the outstretched leg of Adam Webster to deflect a shot beyond Jason Steele
Roberto De Zerbi's side deservedly retook the lead after the break when Harrison turned through his own net under pressure from Solly March (61), before the winger was absolved of any guilt by scoring a stunning equaliser (78)
Harrison collected a short corner from Wilfried Gnonto, jinked inside onto his favoured right boot and curled a wonderful shot into the far corner of the net to ease a degree of Elland Road angst, as Leeds avoided defeat after conceding the opening goal for the first time since August
"Disappointing for the result, we played a fantastic game with the possibility to score the goals to close the game," De Zerbi said in the aftermath, as his side missed the opportunity to close the gap further on the European spots
Brighton, who arrived with a club-record 11 Premier League wins already this term, stay in seventh, while Leeds slip to 19th after Bournemouth and Everton both registered wins
"In a game when we were behind twice, it's good for us to take a point," Javi Gracia reflected, with his side a point adrift of safety, having played a game more than Southampton directly below and West Ham just above
Harrison's solo strike was not enough to lift Leeds out of the drop zone but it will inspire hope, not least because the hosts were outclassed for large parts of the game but still managed to emerge with something to show for their determined efforts
The home crowd started the day in sombre spirits, reflected by their side's nervy start as misplaced passes at the back invited Brighton pressure, with Luke Ayling routinely caught out by the trickery of Mitoma
Leeds threatened sporadically but there was an air of inevitability about Brighton's opener
Pascal Gross stood up a teasing cross towards the Japan international at the far post and his selfless header back across the face of goal was nodded in by a thankful Mac Allister - his seven goals in 21 games this season is one more than in his first 63 appearances combined
Bamford lifted the mood shortly after, rifling an effort in off the underside of the crossbar via a Webster deflection, but unrelenting Brighton continued to wrestle control and momentum
They pressed and probed in typical fashion, before Max Wober's attempted clearance from Mitoma's low cross rebounded awkwardly off Illan Meslier, forcing a rash Harrison clearance to receive further punishment
The winger had to act, owing to the presence of March directly behind him, but the entire episode was erratic and careless - Brighton have benefitted from more own goals (five) than any other side this season
Substitute Danny Welbeck then had the chance to put the game beyond Leeds but failed to get the better of Meslier in a 1v1, instead allowing Harrison to atone for his earlier mistake by completing the scoring with the best strike of a frantic but entertaining afternoon
"We made a lot of mistakes in the final third," the Brighton boss concluded
"We were looking for the win today
 But big credit for my players because they follow the plan
 We were twice behind and it wasn't easy to manage the game
 We were playing against a big team
 I want to give value to the point
"The game was more open - there were chances for both teams
 We have to give value because every single point counts
 They press well and usually have much more possession than other teams, so we had to defend well
"I think it's a good point
 In all the games we've played before we've created many chances and today, we scored two
 In the next games, I think we'll do it again
""I am really disappointed for the result
 We played a fantastic game
 We had the possibility to score more in the game and close the game
 We made a lot of mistakes in the final third
 For this, I am sorry for the result, and for my players
"We could attack many times in the first half
 We play well, we understand from the first minute of the game
 It's difficult to win here because the stadium is fantastic and the atmosphere is amazing
 But if we speak about the performance we deserved to win
"When the result was 2-1 we had to close the game
 We had chances to do that
 Welbeck, Mac Allister, Mitoma - I don't know how many times they were inside the goal area
 We suffered a goal in the set-piece
 We are paying for this
"We know how it can be in football
"Kaoru Mitoma's potential has been unleashed
 What a breath of fresh air the Japan international is
 Wonderful to watch - inventive and stylish but also dogged and determined
 He is Brighton's creative catalyst
 It's hard to believe that the flourishing forward only managed one start this season under former boss Graham Potter
 What an oversight
Mitoma underpins Brighton's footballing philosophy, which is being cared for and nourished by Roberto De Zerbi
 Green shoots of possibility are fast turning into lofty ambitions of a first European night at the Amex - still a pipe dream but the Seagulls are certainly in the hunt
 As such, they will rightly feel aggrieved with the way they were pegged back twice against Leeds
 Both goals were individual moments of brilliance - difficult to guard against - but the margin for error has narrowed because competition is so fierce
Liverpool have been resurgent, Newcastle remain in the race and even Chelsea are beginning to click
 A hard task made harder
 Back to Mitoma
 The forward will become the highest-scoring Japanese player in a single Premier League season if he finds the net again this term
 "I know about the record
 I would just like to go as far as I can," the winger told Brighton's official website this week
 He's riding the crest of a wave and carrying his team-mates with him
 Six goals and two assists since the World Cup restart
The clamour was all about Leandro Trossard's influence on Brighton before the Belgian's big move to Arsenal in January
 But it's Mitoma earning acclaim now
 Out of the shadows, into the spotlight - finally, his time to shine
 travel to on Saturday March 18, kick-off 3pm, while face a midweek trip to south London-based  on Wednesday, kick-off 7
30pm
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