Brighton & Hove Albion were held to a goalless draw by Tromso in the first leg of their Conference League play-off. The match, played in Norway, saw the Seagulls unable to find a breakthrough against a resilient Tromso side.
This fixture marked Brighton’s first competitive game of the season, while Tromso is currently in the middle of their domestic campaign. The Norwegian team defended compactly, with numerous players blocking shots and their goalkeeper performing well. Despite creating opportunities, Brighton could not convert them into goals.
Match Overview
Brighton had the majority of chances throughout the game. Tromso goalkeeper Jakob Haugaard was particularly active, making two significant saves in the first half from a low strike by Georginio Rutter and a volley from Ibrahim Osman. Yasin Ayari also forced another save from Haugaard later in the match.
Despite Brighton’s dominance in possession and shots, Tromso managed to create two notable opportunities on the counter-attack. In the second half, Heine Larsen broke through but his one-on-one attempt was saved by Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. Later, in the 85th minute, Isak Vadebu also found himself through on goal but sent his shot wide, missing a chance to secure a late winner for Tromso.
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler acknowledged that his team controlled the game but noted they were not quick enough in possession. He also highlighted Tromso’s strong defensive performance and their ability to create chances from transition moments. Hurzeler expressed that while a draw was not the desired result, the team must be satisfied with it.
Team News and Upcoming Fixtures
For Brighton, defender Luka Vuskovic made his first competitive start following his club-record move from Tottenham. Vuskovic received a yellow card in the second half for a shirt pull. Fellow summer signing Zadok Yohanna came on as a late substitute. Other summer arrivals such as Pascal Struijk, Costinha, and Michael Svoboda were on the bench.
Midfielder Carlos Baleba and winger Yankuba Minteh were not part of the Brighton squad due to injuries. Baleba is dealing with an ankle injury, while Minteh is sidelined with a leg injury that Hurzeler indicated would keep him out for several weeks. Both players have been linked with moves to other clubs, with Baleba reportedly linked to Manchester United and Minteh to Liverpool.
Brighton will host Tromso in the return leg at the Amex Stadium next Thursday. Any win for Brighton in the second leg will secure their progression to the main draw of the competition. Before the return leg, Brighton will play their opening Premier League fixture of the 2026/27 season, hosting Aston Villa on Sunday.
Statistical Overview
Match statistics show Brighton had significantly more shots, with 25 attempts compared to Tromso’s 5. Brighton also had 6 shots on target, while Tromso had 1. Brighton’s possession was higher, with a pass accuracy of 88.8% compared to Tromso’s 71.8%. Tromso goalkeeper Jakob Haugaard made 6 saves, whereas Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen made 1 save.
Brighton committed 19 fouls and received 2 yellow cards, while Tromso committed 7 fouls and received no cards. Brighton also had more corners, with 11 compared to Tromso’s 5. The Seagulls will now prepare for their next match against Aston Villa on Sunday.
Source: skysports.com
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