An inspired substitution by Neil Warnock earned Sheffield United a point at injury-hit Brighton.
The Blades were heading for defeat when boss Warnock brought on Andy Liddell for Tommy Black on the hour mark.
The change paid off immediately, Liddell crossing from the left for Paul Shaw to control and then convert his second goal in as many games from point blank range.
United finished strongly once they were level and they really should have taken all three points.
Brighton keeper Michels Kuipers made important late saves to foil Shaw, Liddell and Danny Cadamarteri, making his debut following a £50,000 move from Leeds.
Michael Tonge also hit the outside of the post with an angled drive as Brighton wilted in the closing stages of the game.
Mark McGhee's side had earlier looked on course for only their second home win of the season.
Darren Currie fired them into a 22nd minute lead with his second goal in as many home games.
Leon Knight created it, escaping from his marker Alan Wright before finding the unmarked Currie with a cross-field pass.
The nephew of former United legend Currie, overlooked by the Blades after a trial when he was 16, made no mistake with a shot from just inside the area.
Brighton had been forced to re-organise because of an injury crisis.
Captain Danny Cullip (hernia) and Guy Butters (calf) were both missing from the centre of defence, so Kerry Mayo had to partner Adam Hinshelwood, who has just had his first call-up to the England Under-21 squad.
Midfielder Richard Carpenter was also ruled out by injury, so a point was satisfactory for McGhee's side after consecutive away wins at Gillingham and Nottingham Forest.