30 NOVEMBER 2023
AEK ATHENS 0 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1
UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE,
GROUP B, MD5 - at the OPAP ARENA, ATHENS.
Matchday 5 saw Albion travel to Athens to meet Greek Super League Champions AEK Athens in a UEFA Europa League, Group B fixture at
the OPAP Arena, "live" in front of the TNT Sports cameras and broadcast over the airwaves on BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
The teams met in Matchday 1 at the Amex on the 21 September 2023 when AEK Athens won 3-2, with their goals coming from Djibril Sidibe (11m), Mijat Gacinovic (40m) and Ezequiel Ponce (84m). Albion's goals came from Joao Pedro 2, penalties (30m & 67m). A win for Albion on Matchday 5 in Athens would see them qualify for the knock-out stages.
The Albion made four changes to their starting line-up from their previous game, the 3-2 win at Nottingham Forest on the 25 November, with Igor Julio, Jack Hinshelwood, Kaoru Mitoma and Joao Pedro coming in for Jan Paul Van Hecke (suspended), Tariq Lamptey (injured), Adam Lallana (injured) and Ansu Fati (injured).
With 1600 travelling fans behind them, the Albion started brightly at the OPAP Arena and early on Evan Ferguson had his goal-bound shot saved by keeper Cican Stankovic and his follow-up effort was deflected by a defender. Subsequently the lively Simon Adringa went on an individual run but his final shot failed to find the target. AEK gradually began to control the proceedings and Orbelin Pineda saw his curled right-foot shot from distance just miss the target and thereafter Albion goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen was called into action, making a string of saves, namely from Damian Szymanski (header), Pineda (shot) and Steven Zuber (shot).
AEK continued in the ascendancy and Zuber went close on two occasions, firstly Zuber flicked a header over the bar and then the same player saw his shot hit the post and bounce away. On balance, the Seagulls were fortunate to be on level terms at the break.
Half-time 0-0.
Early second-half Verbruggen made a great save to keep out a volley from Mijat Gacinovic and moments later Szymanski brought down Joao Pedro in the box. Initially Swiss Referee Sandro Scharer waved aside Albion's appeals for a penalty but upon being referred to the VAR monitor he was forced to reverse his decision and Pedro calmly slotted home the resultant penalty-kick. 1-0.
Further drama ensued when on 65 minutes Gacinovic stamped on Joel Veltman and was shown a second yellow card, then a red, off he went and AEK were down to ten men. The Seagulls should have increased their lead on 72 minutes when Igor Julio's delightful through ball sent Ferguson clear but keeper Stankovic out-guessed the young Irishman by tipping away his low shot.
AEK's Pineda then saw his snap snot strike the post and at the other end Lewis Dunk headed marginally wide from Pascal Gross's corner. Youngster Joshua Duffus (18) came on as a substitute for Ferguson on 87 minutes for his Albion debut and nearly scored a second for the Seagulls in time added on.
This was Albion's third win in a row in Europe.
Final-score 1-0.
Match stats:
Albion had 9 attempts at goal, with 2 on target and won 4 corners, free-kicks conceded - 13.
AEK Athens had 19 attempts at goal, with 5 on target and won 4 corners, free-kicks conceded -12.
TO SUM UP - A mature European performance by the Seagulls saw them overcome AEK Athens by courtesy of a Joao Pedro penalty and progress into the knock-out stages of the competition. Goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen made a number of smart saves to keep Albion in the game. The Seagulls have enjoyed their unbeaten trips to
Marseille (2-2), Ajax (2-0) and AEK Athens (1-0).
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Bart Verbruggen; Joel Veltman, Lewis Dunk (Capt), Igor Julio, Jack Hinshelwood; Pascal Gross, Billy Gilmour (Carlos Baleba 88); Simon Adringa, Evan Ferguson (Joshua Duffus 87), Kaoru Mitoma (Mahmoud Dahoud 69); Joao Pedro (James Milner 77).
Subs not used: Jason Steele (G/K), Facundo Buonanotte, Jack Hinchy, Samy Chouchane, Ben Jackson, Leigh Kavanagh, Tom McGill (G/K).
AEK Athens line-up (4-1-4-1):- Cican Stankovic; Lazaros Rota, Domagoj Vida, Harold Moukoudi, Ehsan Hajisafi; Damian Szymanski (Capt): Nordin Amrabat (Niclas Eliasson 72), Petros Mantalos (Sergio Araujo 72), Orbelin Pineda (Rodolfo Pizarro 82),Mijat Gacinovic; Steven Zuber
Subs not used: Giorgos Athanasiadis (G/K), Milad Mohammadi, Gerasimos Mitoglou, Djibril Sidibi, Panagiotis Ginis (G/K).
Referee: Sandro Scharer (Switzerland).
Red Card: AEK Athens: 1 - Mijat Gacinovic.
Yellow Cards: Albion: 1 - Joel Veltman.
AEK: 3 - Mijat Gacinovic (2), Steven Zuber.
Possession: Albion - 44%. AEK Athens - 56%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Lewis Dunk (Albion).