9 NOVEMBER 2023 -
AFC AJAX 0 BRIGHTON & HOVEALBION 2
UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE, GROUP B, MD4 - at the JOHAN CRUIFF ARENA, AMSTERDAM.
The Seagulls were on their European travels again, this time to Amsterdam to meet AFC Ajax in the Europa League at the Johan Cruiff Arena, "live" in front of the TNT Sports cameras, the match also being broadcast by BBC Radio Sussex Sport. The Seagulls were also looking for their first-ever away win in European football.
Last time out, the Albion had drawn 1-1 with Everton in the Premier at Goodison Park on the 4 November and for their visit to Amsterdam, Albion Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi made three changes to his starting line-up from the Everton game, with Mahmoud Dahoud, Ansu Fati and Joao Pedro coming in for Adam Lallana, Billy Gilmour and Evan Ferguson. Joel Veltman was returning to Ajax. his former club, prior to joining Albion.
Since Matchday 3 at the Amex on the 26 October, when the Albion won 2-0, Ajax had appointed former player John Van't Schip as their new Head Coach in place of previous incumbent Maurice Steijn and Schip had an immediate impact with Eredivisie wins over Volendam and Heerenveen, which took the club up to 11th spot in the Eredivisie.
In the Ajax starting line-up was Captain Steven Bergwijn, formerly with Tottenham Hotspur. Former Arsenal and Middlesbrough striker and former Albion loanee Chuba Akpom was on the Ajax substitutes bench.
Having won the UEFA Champions League on four occasions, Ajax were steeped deep into the anals of European football history.
Early on, Bart Verbruggen in the Albion goal was called upon to make a couple of routine saves from Steven Berghuis and Kristian Hlynsson. The Seagulls took the lead on 14 minutes when Ajax midfielder Silvano Vos gave the ball away to Simon Adringa whose exquisite through-ball found the on-running Ansu Fati, who calmly fired the ball home for Albion's opener. 1-0.
Another error by the home side enabled Joao Pedro to have a sight of goal but the Brazilian striker wastefully fired the ball over the bar. Prior to the break Fati and Adringa exchanged passes in a swift movement but the latter's shot produced a fine save by Ajax keeper Diant Ramaj. The Seagulls deservedly lead at the interval.
Half-time 1-0.
Albion had to make an enforced change at the start of the second-half, with Igor Julio substituting for the injured Lewis Duk. Pedro's excellent run past a number of Ajax players ended disappointingly with a shot into the side netting but on 53 minutes the Albion scored their second when Fati's superb run ended with a slide-rule pass to Adringa, who netted from close-in for a well-executed goal. 2-0.
The Seagulls were now well in control of the game and efforts by Pascal Gross, Fati and Kaoru Mitoma went close to increasing their lead. Albion had a lucky let-off on 74 minutes when substitute Pervis Estupinan lost possession of the ball to Ajax's Brian Brobbey but the striker's shot hit both posts before being cleared for a corner by defenders Joel Veltman and Jan Paul Van Hecke.
Ajax threatened in the closing minutes when Julio made a fine defensive intervention to block a shot by substitute Carlos Forbs and then keeper Verbruggen made a fine save to keep out Steven Bergwijn's close-range shot. An excellent night in Amsterdam for the Albion.
Final-score 2-0.
Match stats:
Albion had 8 attempts at goal, with 3 on target and won 7 corners, free-kicks conceded - 12.
Ajax had 8 attempts at goal, with 3 on target and won 5 corners, free-kicks conceded - 9.
TO SUM UP - A good first-ever away win for the Seagulls in Europe. Upon completion of Matchday 4, the Albion were in second spot in Group B with 7 points from 4 games, 1 point behind top-placed Marseille and 3 points ahead of third-placed AEK Athens. Matchday 5 sees Albion travel to AEK Athens on the 30 November.
Three more players were added to Albion's lengthening injury list, namely Lewis Dunk, James Milner and Pervis Estupinan.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Bart Verbruggen; Joel Veltman, Jan Paul Van Hecke, Lewis Dunk (Capt) (Igor Julio 46), James Milner (Billy Gilmour 8); Pascal Gross, Mahmoud Dahoud (Pervis Estupinan 65) (Carlos Baleba 77); Simon Adringa, Ansu Fati (Evan Ferguson 65), Kaoru Mitoma; Joao Pedro.
Subs not used: Jason Steele (G/K), Adam Webster, Adam Lallana, Facunda Buonanotte, Jack Hinshelwood, Joshua Duffus, Tom McGill (G/K).
AFC Ajax line-up (3-2-4-1):- Diant Ramaj; Anton Gaaei (Borna Sosa 57), Josip Sutalo, Jorrel Hato; Devyne Rensch (Georges Mikautadze 78), Silvano Vos (Benjamin Tahirovic 73); Steven Berghuis, Kristian Hlynsson (Carlos Forbs 57), Kenneth Taylor (Chuba Akpom 46), Steven Bergwijn (Capt); Brian Brobbey.
Subs not used: Remko Pasveer (G/K), Anass Salah-Eddine, Jakov Medic, Mika Godts, Martha, Setford, Gaston Avila.
Referee: Nikola Dabanovic (Montenegro).
Yellow Cards: Albion: 2 - Jan Paul Van Hecke, Joao Pedro.
Possession: Albion - 46%. Ajax - 54%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Lewis Dunk (Albion).
Attendance: 52095.