Leeds ran in three goals to extend their lead at the top of League One with a fifth straight win as Brighton suffered a first loss under Gus Poyet.
Robert Snodgrass opened the scoring when his 20-yard shot crept past stand-in keeper Graeme Smith.
Jermaine Beckford then made it two with his 13th of the season when he ran onto Neil Kilkenny's pass to score and Kilkenny himself lashed in the third.
Glenn Murray headed Brighton's best chance wide, but it was Leeds's day.
Brighton boss Gus Poyet told BBC Sussex:
"They showed why they are top of the league with their confidence and the way they play and pass the ball.
"I think for a few moments it looked like we were able to compete and maybe come back into the game, but I think the second goal was the key this afternoon. "
90:00+8:44 The referee blows for the end of the match.
90:00+2:56 Andrew Crofts has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
90:00+1:00 Substitution Jermaine Beckford goes off and Max Gradel comes on.
89:24 David Prutton provided the assist for the goal.
89:24 GOAL - Neil Kilkenny:Brighton 0 - 3 Leeds United Neil Kilkenny grabs a goal from inside the area low into the middle of the goal. Brighton 0-3 Leeds.
88:50 Corner taken left-footed by Kevin McLeod.
86:14 Jermaine Beckford is caught offside. Free kick taken by Graeme Smith.
85:23 Corner taken left-footed by Kevin McLeod, Casper Ankergren makes a clearance.
82:43 Substitution Enoch Showunmi joins the action as a substitute, replacing Sam Vokes.
80:48 Substitution David Prutton joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jonathan Howson.
Correction - 79:54 Booking Lubomir Michalik is booked.
79:54 Booking The referee shows Jonathan Howson a yellow card.
77:40 James Tunnicliffe sends in a cross, Nicky Forster fouled by Jonathan Howson, the ref awards a free kick. Strike comes in from Nicky Forster from the free kick.
77:40 Substitution (Brighton) makes a substitution, with Craig Davies coming on for Adam El-Abd.
77:40 Elliott Bennett fouled by Robert Snodgrass, the ref awards a free kick.
74:31 Nicky Forster challenges Patrick Kisnorbo unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Casper Ankergren.
Correction - 72:13 Sam Vokes fouled by Adam El-Abd, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Casper Ankergren.
72:13 Adam El-Abd challenges Sam Vokes unfairly and gives away a free kick. Lubomir Michalik takes the free kick.
71:33 Robert Snodgrass produces a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty area that goes harmlessly over the target.
70:21 Foul by Glenn Murray on Lubomir Michalik, free kick awarded. Casper Ankergren takes the direct free kick.
69:23 Substitution Kevin McLeod is brought on as a substitute for Dean Cox.
68:36 Substitution (Brighton) makes a substitution, with Alan Navarro coming on for Andrew Whing.
67:56 Corner taken by Robert Snodgrass from the left by-line, clearance made by Elliott Bennett.
67:10 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Robert Snodgrass, Glenn Murray manages to make a clearance.
66:21 Corner taken right-footed by Dean Cox from the left by-line, clearance made by Patrick Kisnorbo.
64:58 Corner taken left-footed by Robert Snodgrass from the right by-line, clearance made by Gary Dicker.
63:22 Andrew Whing fouled by Jermaine Beckford, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed by Adam El-Abd.
62:06 Glenn Murray produces a right-footed shot from close in which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
58:03 Michael Doyle fouled by Gary Dicker, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Casper Ankergren.
56:37 Nicky Forster challenges Neil Kilkenny unfairly and gives away a free kick. Robert Snodgrass delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing.
54:01 Outswinging corner taken by Elliott Bennett, clearance made by Lubomir Michalik.
52:43 Foul by Andy Hughes on Nicky Forster, free kick awarded. Strike comes in from Elliott Bennett from the free kick, Patrick Kisnorbo manages to make a clearance.
50:37 Andrew Crofts challenges Michael Doyle unfairly and gives away a free kick. Tommy Elphick makes a clearance.
48:44 Robert Snodgrass takes the inswinging corner, Headed effort from close range by Patrick Kisnorbo goes wide left of the goal.
45:23 Free kick awarded for a foul by Lubomir Michalik on Glenn Murray. Elliott Bennett has a direct shot on goal from the free kick.
45:01 The match restarts for the second half.
Half Time
45:00+1:58 The match has reached half-time.
45:00+1:22 The referee blows for offside against Glenn Murray. Direct free kick taken by Casper Ankergren.
45:00+0:50 Sam Vokes produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the goal.
45:00+0:15 Foul by Glenn Murray on Patrick Kisnorbo, free kick awarded. Lubomir Michalik restarts play with the free kick.
44:00 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Robert Snodgrass by Elliott Bennett. Robert Snodgrass produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.
42:28 Assist by Neil Kilkenny.
42:28 GOAL - Jermaine Beckford:Brighton 0 - 2 Leeds United Jermaine Beckford grabs a goal from inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Brighton 0-2 Leeds.
40:12 Robert Snodgrass takes a shot. Save by Graeme Smith.
37:17 Foul by Lubomir Michalik on Glenn Murray, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed right-footed by Adam El-Abd from right channel, clearance by Patrick Kisnorbo.
36:43 Unfair challenge on Glenn Murray by Lubomir Michalik results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Andrew Crofts.
36:00 Jermaine Beckford concedes a free kick for a foul on James Tunnicliffe. Graeme Smith takes the direct free kick.
34:24 Nicky Forster is ruled offside. Casper Ankergren restarts play with the free kick.
33:01 Headed effort on goal by Glenn Murray from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the goal.
32:04 Free kick awarded for a foul by Michael Doyle on Dean Cox. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Adam El-Abd from left wing, clearance made by Lubomir Michalik.
31:16 Unfair challenge on Glenn Murray by Lubomir Michalik results in a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Dean Cox from left channel, save by Casper Ankergren.
28:08 Effort from close range by Jermaine Beckford hits the post.
26:38 The assist for the goal came from Jermaine Beckford.
26:38 GOAL - Robert Snodgrass:Brighton 0 - 1 Leeds United Robert Snodgrass fires in a fantastic goal from just outside the penalty box to the top left corner of the goal. Brighton 0-1 Leeds.
25:26 Glenn Murray concedes a free kick for a foul on Patrick Kisnorbo. Patrick Kisnorbo restarts play with the free kick.
24:45 Sam Vokes takes a shot. Save by Graeme Smith.
21:48 Free kick awarded for a foul by Glenn Murray on Andy Hughes. Casper Ankergren restarts play with the free kick.
21:09 Free kick awarded for a foul by Robert Snodgrass on Elliott Bennett. Graeme Smith takes the free kick.
16:21 Outswinging corner taken by Robert Snodgrass, clearance made by Glenn Murray.
15:35 Robert Snodgrass has an effort at goal from outside the box missing to the wide left of the goal.
14:13 The referee blows for offside against Jermaine Beckford. Graeme Smith restarts play with the free kick.
11:41 Effort from the edge of the area by Nicky Forster goes wide of the right-hand upright.
6:38 Unfair challenge on Neil Kilkenny by Elliott Bennett results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Michael Doyle.
5:36 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Elliott Bennett by Andy Hughes. The free kick is swung in right-footed by James Tunnicliffe.
3:50 Jermaine Beckford produces a left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
0:00 The referee gets the match started.
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