A disappointing start to the European Campaign
21 SEPTEMBER 2023 -
BRIGHTON & HO VE ALBION 2 ( Joao Pedro 2 )
AEK ATHENS 3 ( Djibril Sidibe 1 Mijat Gacinovic 1 Ezequiel Ponce 1
UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE, GROUP B, MD1 -
at the AMERICAN EXPRESS COMMUNITY STADIUM, FALMER.
For their first-ever competitive game in European football the Albion welcomed Greek Super League Champions AEK Athens to the Amex for a UEFA Europa League, Group B fixture, "live" in front of the TNT Sports cameras and broadcast over the airwaves on BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
The Albion made seven changes to their starting line-up from their previous game, the 3-1 win at Manchester United on the 16 September, with James Milner, Igor Julio, Pervis Estupinan, Billy Gilmour, Solly March, Ansu Fati and Joao Pedro coming in for Joel Veltman, Lewis Dunk (injured), Tariq Lamptey, Mahmoud Dahoud, Simon Adringa, Adam Lallana and Danny Welbeck.
Igor Julio (signed from Fiorentina) and Ansu Fati (on a season-long loan from FC Barcelona) were given their first Albion starts.
Despite being spurred on by a fervent capacity crowd, the Albion fell a goal down on 11 minutes when former Premier League player Djibril Sidibe scored with a spectacular header from the edge of the penalty area, following a free-kick from the left. A dreadful piece of defending by the Albion, as scorer Sidibe was totally unmarked. 0-1.
After both teams came close to scoring, the hosts equalised on the half-hour, after Estonian Referee Kristo Tohver originally cautioned Joao Pedro for simulation after being felled by defender Ehsan Hajisafi in the penalty area but VAR ruled that Pedro had been fouled, the yellow card was withdrawn and Pedro calmly slotted home the resultant penalty-kick. 1-1.
Albion's defensive slackness enabled AEK to regain the lead on 40 minutes when Orbelin Pineda's free-kick from the left eluded Albion's back-line and Mijat Gacinovic prodded the ball home from close-in. How Albion missed Lewis Dunk at the heart of the Seagulls defence. 1-2.
A tough first-half of European football for the Seagulls.
Half-time 1-2.
The second-half started with Albion on the front foot and there was a further penalty controversy on 67 minutes when defender Damian Szymanski fouled Pedro in the box and which incident was missed by Referee Tohver. VAR intervened and the Referee was forced to award Albion a second penalty and Pedro coolly converted the penalty-kick. 2-2.
The Seagulls were on the move, Kaoru Mitoma had a goal-bound volley blocked and Pedro had a gilt-edged chance saved by AEK goalkeeper Cican Stankovic.
On 84 minutes AEK snatched the points when slack Albion defending permitted Niclas Eliasson to cross to fellow substitute Ezequiel Ponce, whose deft shot just beat Albion keeper Jason Steele. 2-3.
The Seagulls thereafter tried to equalise and substitute Simon Adringa and then Pervis Estupinan went close to scoring a third Albion goal.
Final-score 2-3.
Match stats:
Albion had 14 attempts at goal, with 7 on target and won 11 corners, free-kicks conceded - 8.
AEK Athens had 11 attempts at goal, with 6 on target and won 2 corners, free-kicks conceded - 15.
TO SUM UP - Expectations were high but Albion's poor defending at crucial times cost them. Captain Lewis Dunk was badly missed at the heart of the Albion defence. The Albion now have five more matches in their group to put matters right, starting in Marseille on the 5 October. (Match drawn 2-2)
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Jason Steele; James Milner (Tariq Lamptey 55), Jan Paul Van Hecke, Igor Julio, Pervis Estupinan; Pascal Gross (Capt), Billy Gilmour (Facundo Buonanotte 86); Solly March, Ansu Fati, Kaoru MItoma (Simon Adringa 86); Joao Pedro (Danny Welbeck 82).
Subs not used: Bart Verbruggen (G/K), Adam Webster, Joel Veltman, Mahmoud Dahoud, Adam Lallana, Carlos Baleba, Tom McGill (G/K), Jack Hinshelwood.
AEK Athens line-up (4-1-4-1):- Cican Stankovic; Djibril Sidibe, Damian Szymanski, Gerasimos Mitoglou, Ehsan Hajisafi (Capt) (Milad Mohammadi 61); Jens Jonsson; Nordin Amrabat, Orbelin Pineda (Petros Mantalos 79), Sergio Araujo (Steven Zuber 68), Mijat Gacinovic (Niclas Eliasson 79); Levi Samuel Garcia (Ezequiel Ponce 68).
Subs not used: Giorgos Athanasiadis (G/K), Lazarus Rota, Kostas Galanopoulos, Rodolfo Pizarro, Giorgos Theocharis (G/K).
Referee: Kristos Tohver (Estonia).
Yellow Cards:
Albion: 4 - Jan Paul Van Hecke, Igor Julio, Pervis Estupinan, Danny Welbeck. AEK Athens: 7 - Djibril Sidibe, Damian Szymanski, Gerasimos Mitoglou, Milad Mohammadi, Petros Mantalos, Mijat Gacinovic, Ezequiel Ponce.
Possession: Albion - 75%. AEK Athens - 25%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Joao Pedro (Albion).
Attendance: 30178.
FORTHCOMING FIXTURES:
5 OCTOBER 2023 - MARSEILLE - away - Europa League
8 OCTOBER 2023 - LIVERPOOL - home - Premier League - kick-off 14.00."Live" on Sky Sports.
8 OCTOBER TO 21 OCTOBER 2023 - INTERNATIONAL BREAK.
21 OCTOBER 2023 - MANCHESTER CITY - away - Premier League - kick-off 15.00.
REPORT TO COME -
ASTON VILLA - away - Premier League - 30 September 2023