AEK Athens 0-1 Brighton: Joao Pedro goal sends European virgins into next round of Europa League
Brighton forward Joao Pedro scored the only attribute of the game against 10-male AEK Athens to send out Roberto De Zerbi’s individuals correct into the Europa League hit stage.
In-form forward Pedro amended his fifth attribute of the tournament in the 55th minute to warranty the Seagulls a optimal-2 covering in Group B.
Albion were 2nd safest before the VAR-awarded place-kick and also blessed not to autumn behind in the closing stages of the first half when AEK forward Steven Zuber struck a post.
The spirited hosts were forced to dabble the final 25 minutes a male down obeying Mijat Gacinovic’s discontinuation for a 2nd yellow card.
Roberto De Zerbi’s individuals will vie for first elbowroom in the swimming pool – and also automatic qualification for the last 16 – when Marseille browse through the Amex Arena in the final round of fixtures in 2 weeks’ time.
Brighton’s maiden European campaign was introduced wearing an underwhelming 3-2 defeat to the Greek winners in September.
Yet the Premier League club came in at the AEK Arena in adjust of their awfully own destiny thanks to a combatting resurgence tempt Marseille and also back-to-back wins over Ajax.
Head instructor De Zerbi made 4 corrections from Saturday’s 3-2 triumphes at Nottingham Woodland, encompassing bearing in mind match-winner Pedro, and also saw his injury-hit side start in the formality.
Evan Ferguson was 2 times blocked as he distressed within 2 minutes, while AEK protector Domagoj Vida came comfy to a tragic awfully own attribute wearing a company back establish which had goalkeeper Cican Stankovic hurrying across his spiel.
Yet the disjointed Seagulls discolored from the motivating start and also were in stable peril of falling behind.
AEK forward Zuber forced Albion keeper Bart Verbruggen to revolve over a forceful drive before pioneering narrowly wide from the resultant alcove.
Brighton were then blessed not to acknowledge merely before the reprieve amidst never-expiring abode pressure.
Switzerland international Zuber operated elbowroom within the 18-yard box wearing speedy feet before seeing his tilted drive deflect off Lewis Dunk and also rattle the vacated post, wearing Gacinovic incapable to head abode the rebound.
Verbruggen was forced to preserve from Gacinovic after the restart before Brighton entraped the lead against the sprinted of dabble throughout a fundamental spell in the competition.
Swiss referee Sandro Scharer initially waved dabble on when Pedro attended progression under pressure from AEK captain Damian Szymanski before alluding to the place after seeing a replay of the mishap on the peddle-side monitor.
Brazilian forward Pedro appropriately dispatched his sixth penalty of the season – and also third against AEK – by sending out Stankovic the promiscuous way from 12 yards to back upwards his weekend brace at Woodland as a substitute.
Brighton had rarely distressed before the opener and also their lug upon was further deepened merely 10 minutes later when Serbia midfielder Gacinovic over-ran the sphere and also raked his studs correct into Joel Veltman to retrieve a 2nd booking.
Seagulls striker Ferguson distressed to dual the lead before being repelled as he tried to round Stankovic possessing been sent readable.
AEK midfielder Orbelin Pineda then glittered wide as the abode side pressed for a leveller yet Brighton, regardless of an uninspiring sport, clutched on realistically conveniently to ensure their European expertises lingers.
