Brighton 2-3 AEK Athens: Seagulls LOSE their first ever European match as Greek champions rain on their parade despite two Joao Pedro penalties
The flight of the Seagulls into Europe commanded great fanfare. It was, quite rightly, a celebration in its own right. Confirmation of sorts of their recovery from the brink of extinction, not only to return to the top flight of English football but beyond.
The city responded by lighting up Brighton Pavilion in blue for the occasion and decking the streets in club colours. Fans flocked to the Amex Stadium in high spirits. Then AEK Athens descended on the south coast and clipped their wings.
Twice the Greeks led and twice Roberto de Zerbi’s team responded with the help of two penalties awarded after VAR referrals and both clinically converted by Joao Pedro as the contest twisted one way and another.
Just as Brighton found their best rhythm, they were punished for overcommitting, stunned by the winner, scored by AEK substitute Ezquiel Ponce. The game ended in a deluge to go with the defeat. They have been through too much to be too despondent in these parts but the new life was not supposed to start quite like this.
Brighton stepped into new territory with De Zerbi at pains to explain his reasons for rotating his squad as they adjust to regular Thursday night football in Europe. He made seven changes to the team he selected for Sunday’s impressive win at Manchester United.
Roberto de Zerbi was left dismayed as Brighton’s big European bow ended in a 3-2 defeat
Djibril Sidibe scored the opener against a heavily rotated Seagulls side after 11 minutes
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These included a first start for Ansu Fati, who came on at Old Trafford and a debut for Igor Julio, in central defence where captain Lewis Dunk missed the occasion with a minor injury. As did teenage striker Evan Ferguson.
Both players are expected to be fit to face Bournemouth on Sunday. Dunk’s absence at the back was keenly felt as the Greek champions took an early lead. The goal was a fabulous flying header from a corner scored by Djibril Sidibie, the former France international once on loan at Everton and best remembered for forgetting to put on one of his socks as he came on as a substitute.
Brighton wobbled and might have gone further behind. Jason Steele made excellent saves, first out to smother Levi Garcia, who was clean through, then to adjust to keep out a deflected shot by Orbelin Pineda.
Garcia burst clear again, this time rushing and dragging the ball well wide as De Zerbi contorted in fury on the touchline, taking aim at a water bottle. He too missed.
Joao Pedro scored his third of the season when he made it 1-1 from the penalty spot
Mijat Gacinovic restored AEK’s advantage just a few minutes before the break
It was midway through the first half when AEK goalkeeper Cican Stankovic was required to make a save of note, at his near post to deny Fati. Then Julio headed wide at the back post when he should have scored before penalty drama number one.
Initially, Estonian referee Kristo Tohver thought striker Pedro had dived. Out came his yellow card but replays supported Pedro’s claim he had been tripped by Ehsan Hajsafi and VAR intervened to alter the decision.
Pedro, his yellow rescinded, levelled from the spot. He will go into the record books as Brighton’s first scorer in European competition but AEK’s lead was restored before the interval. Again, from a set-piece, this time a free-kick swerved expertly into the penalty box and slid past Steele on the bounce by Mijat Gacinovic.
A long stoppage for treatment to AEK defender Hajsafi interrupted the start of the second half after a clash of heads with Jan-Paul van Hecke and led to 13 minutes of added time.
Pedro once again got Brighton back into the game as he kept his cool from 12 yards out
Ezequiel Ponce scored the winner as AEK Athens resisted two equalisers to prevail in the end
Brighton lost Milner to injury before penalty drama number two. Again, a foul on Pedro dismissed by referee Tohver. Again, a referral to the pitch-side screens and a change of mind by the man in the middle. Again, Pedro sent goalkeeper Stankovic the wrong way and equalised.
It set up a frenzied closing sequence. The home crowd turned up the volume and tempers frayed on the pitch. Ponce struck in the 84th minute and ‘keeper Stankovic stood firm, making late saves from Simon Adringa and Pascal Gross.
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