Brighton and Hove Albion 4 Tromso 0
Brighton and Hove Albion booked their place in the Europa Conference League group phase with a comfortable 4-0 play-off victory over Tromso at the Amex Stadium tonight (Thursday 27 August).
Albion had work to do in the second leg game this evening after failing to capitalise on 25 attempts on goal when they drew 0-0 last week in Norway.
The Seagulls were far more ruthless on home soil, with first-half finishes from Charalampos Kostoulas, Maxim De Cuyper and Mats Wieffer putting them firmly in control of the tie.
Olivier Boscagli added a deflected fourth late on to seal a place in the draw at noon tomorrow on the back of the thumping 4-0 Premier League win over Aston Villa on Sunday.
Before kick-off, Brighton unveiled Algeria left-back Jaouen Hadjam after his move from Swiss champions Young Boys before a minute’s applause was held in memory of former Seagulls manager Mike Bailey who died last week aged 84.
Fabian Hürzeler made two changes to the side which started against Villa, with Kostoulas and midfielder Matt O’Riley replacing injured pair Georginio Rutter and Jack Hinshelwood.
The Seagulls dominated from the first whistle and went ahead in the 22nd minute.
De Cuyper dispossessed right-back Isak Dahlquist deep inside Tromso territory, giving Kostoulas the chance to turn and fire a first-time finish into the bottom-right corner from 20 yards for his first goal since January.
The visitors repeatedly invited pressure with risky attempts to play out from the back and, after a couple of narrow escapes, were punished again in the 33rd minute.
Substitute Leon Hien – an early replacement for the injured Vetle Skjaervik – was left exposed inside his own 18-yard box following a short goal-kick. De Cuyper capitalised on the situation, seizing possession and slotting home to add to his goal at the weekend.
As Brighton added a third, home fans were singing: “Are you Villa in disguise?”
Boscagli’s low cross from the left flicked up off Kostoulas’s heels into the path of advancing right-back Wieffer, who took a touch before lashing the ball into the bottom-left corner.
With an eye on the league trip to Chelsea, Brighton head coach Hürzeler brought on summer signings Pascal Struijk and Costinha in place of captain Lewis Dunk and Wieffer at the break.
The second half followed a similar pattern to the weekend clash with Villa when Brighton controlled proceedings without needing to push for further goals.
French defender Boscagli saw a close-range finish ruled out for offside after Tromso goalkeeper Jakob Haugaard parried Pascal Gross’s initial effort before substitute Ibrahim Osman went close.
Boscagli was not to be denied and completed the scoring four minutes from time.
After Gross’s attempted cross from the right was partially cleared, the left-back took a touch before unleashing a low shot from just outside the area. It fizzed home via a touch off Dahlquist and the base of the right post.
