The Seagulls were 2-1 down when manager Mark McGhee introduced Kazim-Richards for Jake Robinson in the 53rd minute.
The 19-year-old striker immediately rounded Andrew Whing to toe-poke Brighton's second equaliser of the game from an acute angle.
It was Kazim-Richards' first goal for the club since a summer move from Bury, paid for with the proceeds of a £250,000 Coca-Cola competition won by Brighton fan Aaron Berry.
Kazim-Richards' dramatic impact capped a burst of three goals in the space of five minutes at the start of the second half after Paul McShane's own goal from a Stephen Hughes cross had gifted Coventry a 39th minute lead.
Leon Knight levelled for Brighton in the 49th minute, heading in from virtually on the goal-line when a cross by Albert Jarrett rebounded off the far post.
Claus Jorgensen put Coventry 2-1 up a minute later with a free header from a Marcus Hall cross.
It looked like being a winning return to the Withdean for Coventry's former Brighton boss Micky Adams at that stage, but Kazim-Richards had other ideas.
Both sides had several chances to claim all three points in the closing stages.
Coventry keeper Stephen Bywater, on loan from West Ham, blocked with his legs to foil Jarrett and then smothered an angled drive by Knight after Jarrett's cross had been headed back by Dean Hammond.
The visitors had plenty of opportunities as well, James Scowcroft missing the best of them, before Kazim-Richards almost snatched victory on the stroke of full time with an explosive shot from 30 yards that flew just over the bar.
Alan Blayney, on loan to Brighton from Southampton towards the end of last season, was back between the posts for the south coast club.
They have re-signed him on a month's loan from the Saints to cover for Wayne Henderson, who was ruled out by a back injury.
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The 19-year-old striker immediately rounded Andrew Whing to toe-poke Brighton's second equaliser of the game from an acute angle.
It was Kazim-Richards' first goal for the club since a summer move from Bury, paid for with the proceeds of a £250,000 Coca-Cola competition won by Brighton fan Aaron Berry.
Kazim-Richards' dramatic impact capped a burst of three goals in the space of five minutes at the start of the second half after Paul McShane's own goal from a Stephen Hughes cross had gifted Coventry a 39th minute lead.
Leon Knight levelled for Brighton in the 49th minute, heading in from virtually on the goal-line when a cross by Albert Jarrett rebounded off the far post.
Claus Jorgensen put Coventry 2-1 up a minute later with a free header from a Marcus Hall cross.
It looked like being a winning return to the Withdean for Coventry's former Brighton boss Micky Adams at that stage, but Kazim-Richards had other ideas.
Both sides had several chances to claim all three points in the closing stages.
Coventry keeper Stephen Bywater, on loan from West Ham, blocked with his legs to foil Jarrett and then smothered an angled drive by Knight after Jarrett's cross had been headed back by Dean Hammond.
The visitors had plenty of opportunities as well, James Scowcroft missing the best of them, before Kazim-Richards almost snatched victory on the stroke of full time with an explosive shot from 30 yards that flew just over the bar.
Alan Blayney, on loan to Brighton from Southampton towards the end of last season, was back between the posts for the south coast club.
They have re-signed him on a month's loan from the Saints to cover for Wayne Henderson, who was ruled out by a back injury.
Click here for match stats