Brighton claimed a historic first win in European football against Ajax to keep alive their hopes of reaching the Europa League knockout stages.
The Seagulls’ first foray into this level of football has been difficult after they lost one and drew one of their first two games in Group B.
But against European veterans Ajax they enjoyed a famous night at Amex Stadium as goals from Joao Pedro and Ansu Fati secured victory.
Pedro got his fourth goal in the Europa League just before half time, driving in a loose ball after Kaoru Mitoma’s fine strike was parried by Ajax goalkeeper Diant Ramaj.
It got even better after the break as Brighton scored a slick second, Simon Adingra playing a superb ball for Fati, who took two touches inside the box before sending the ball into the corner of the net.
Steven Berghuis reminded Brighton not to let their guard down as he struck the post for Ajax, but that was one of few chances for the visitors as the Seagulls closed out a comfortable win.
A magical night for Brighton
These are moments to treasure for Brighton fans.
Back in 1994-95, as Ajax were winning a fourth European Cup, Brighton had just completed another campaign in the third tier of English football, finishing 16th.
Facing such illustrious opponents – albeit in a difficult moment in their history – highlights the progress the Seagulls have made over recent years and fans packed out the stadium on Thursday for what was undoubtedly the hottest ticket in town.
The atmosphere was superb before kick-off, as supporters were encouraged to wave their scarves in the air – but they then had to be patient once the game got under way.
Ajax, who are second bottom in the Eredivisie after the worst start to a season in their history, sat deep in order to frustrate their opponents – and it almost worked until a moment of magic from Mitoma got the breakthrough.
Brighton picked their way through the packed defence before the Japan forward cut inside and hammered a shot that was parried to Pedro, who fired home.
From then on the home side grew in confidence and Fati’s fine second-half goal ensured Brighton fans could confidently celebrate this moment in history.
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Brighton & Hove Albion
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Squad number23Player nameSteele
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Squad number34Player nameVeltman
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Squad number29Player namevan Hecke
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Squad number5Player nameDunk
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Squad number6Player nameMilner
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Squad number24Player nameAdingra
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Squad number13Player nameGroß
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Squad number11Player nameGilmour
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Squad number22Player nameMitoma
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Squad number31Player nameAnsu Fati
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Squad number9Player nameJoão Pedro
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Squad number4Player nameWebster
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Squad number8Player nameDahoud
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Squad number20Player nameBaleba
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Squad number28Player nameFerguson
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Squad number40Player nameBuonanotte
Ajax
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Squad number40Player nameRamaj
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Squad number3Player nameGaaei
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Squad number37Player nameSutalo
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Squad number4Player nameHato
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Squad number25Player nameSosa
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Squad number33Player nameTahirovic
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Squad number23Player nameBerghuis
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Squad number8Player nameTaylor
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Squad number11Player nameCarlos Forbs
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Squad number9Player nameBrobbey
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Squad number7Player nameBergwijn
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Squad number10Player nameAkpom
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Squad number21Player namevan den Boomen
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Squad number24Player nameVos
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Squad number38Player nameHlynsson
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Squad number39Player nameGodts
Line-ups
Brighton
Formation 4-4-2
- 23Steele
- 34Veltman
- 29van HeckeBooked at 31minsSubstituted forWebsterat 85′minutes
- 5Dunk
- 6MilnerSubstituted forDahoudat 85′minutes
- 24Adingra
- 13Groß
- 11GilmourSubstituted forBalebaat 64′minutes
- 22MitomaBooked at 22mins
- 31Ansu FatiSubstituted forBuonanotteat 64′minutes
- 9João PedroSubstituted forFergusonat 75′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Verbruggen
- 3dos Santos de Paulo
- 4Webster
- 8Dahoud
- 14Lallana
- 20Baleba
- 28Ferguson
- 38McGill
- 40Buonanotte
- 41Hinshelwood
- 56Duffus
Ajax
Formation 4-3-3
- 40Ramaj
- 3Gaaei
- 37Sutalo
- 4Hato
- 25Sosa
- 33TahirovicSubstituted forvan den Boomenat 60′minutes
- 23BerghuisSubstituted forGodtsat 60′minutes
- 8Taylor
- 11Forbs BorgesSubstituted forHlynssonat 45′minutes
- 9BrobbeySubstituted forVosat 75′minutes
- 7BergwijnSubstituted forAkpomat 75′minutes
Substitutes
- 10Akpom
- 17Salah-Eddine
- 18Medic
- 21van den Boomen
- 22Pasveer
- 24Vos
- 30Ávila
- 38Hlynsson
- 39Godts
- 47Gooijer
- 51Setford
- Referee:
- Bartosz Frankowski
Live Text
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Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 2, Ajax 0.
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Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 2, Ajax 0.
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Facundo Buonanotte (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Kenneth Taylor (Ajax).
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Foul by Pascal Groß (Brighton and Hove Albion).
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Kristian Hlynsson (Ajax) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Offside, Ajax. Branco van den Boomen tries a through ball, but Chuba Akpom is caught offside.
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Facundo Buonanotte (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Jorrel Hato (Ajax).
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Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Adam Webster replaces Jan Paul van Hecke.
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Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Mahmoud Dahoud replaces James Milner.
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Foul by Carlos Baleba (Brighton and Hove Albion).
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Branco van den Boomen (Ajax) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Attempt saved. Facundo Buonanotte (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Kaoru Mitoma.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Substitution, Ajax. Silvano Vos replaces Brian Brobbey.
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Substitution, Ajax. Chuba Akpom replaces Steven Bergwijn because of an injury.
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Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Evan Ferguson replaces João Pedro.
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Delay in match because of an injury Steven Bergwijn (Ajax).
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Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Branco van den Boomen.