Brighton opened their Uefa Conference League campaign with a commanding 4-0 victory over Lithuania's Kauno Zalgiris at the Amex on Thursday, extending their winning run in all competitions to five matches.
Georginio Rutter was the standout. The French forward turned in Ibrahim Osman's cutback late in the first half — the goal awarded after a VAR check confirmed the ball had stayed in play — then set up Jack Hinshelwood for the second on the stroke of half-time. Rutter completed the scoring double in the 53rd minute before Matt O'Riley headed in his first goal in over a year to finish the rout.
A free-scoring outfit
"I am very happy to have two goals today, but more importantly is the three points," Rutter told TNT Sports. "We are very happy to start the competition like this." Brighton have now scored 29 goals this season, a tally bettered among clubs in Europe's biggest leagues only by Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Brighton, who reached the league phase by beating Norwegian side Tromso 4-0 in the August play-off round, arrived in the Conference League as one of the favourites. Their only previous taste of European football came with a run to the last 16 of the 2023-24 Europa League. They will now bid to become the third English winners of this competition in as many years, following Chelsea and Crystal Palace, after West Ham lifted the trophy in 2023.
Elsewhere in the Conference League
Ligue 1 leaders Monaco ground out a 2-1 win at CSKA Sofia, with in-form Germany Under-21 striker Paris Brunner scoring for the seventh time in eight games and Ansu Fati adding a second before the break. Four-time European champions Ajax stumbled to a 2-1 defeat at Hajduk Split, while Atalanta eased past Pafos 3-1. Former Liverpool star Mohamed Salah was on target in Trabzonspor's 4-2 victory away at Finland's KuPS Kuopio, and last season's Europa League runners-up Freiburg continued their fine form with a 3-2 win over Czech side Jablonec. Hearts drew 1-1 with Denmark's Nordsjaelland.
Sources:
Brighton cruise to 4-0 win as Monaco, Atalanta claim Conference League victories — Malay Mail (AFP)
Georginio Rutter was the standout. The French forward turned in Ibrahim Osman's cutback late in the first half — the goal awarded after a VAR check confirmed the ball had stayed in play — then set up Jack Hinshelwood for the second on the stroke of half-time. Rutter completed the scoring double in the 53rd minute before Matt O'Riley headed in his first goal in over a year to finish the rout.
A free-scoring outfit
"I am very happy to have two goals today, but more importantly is the three points," Rutter told TNT Sports. "We are very happy to start the competition like this." Brighton have now scored 29 goals this season, a tally bettered among clubs in Europe's biggest leagues only by Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Brighton, who reached the league phase by beating Norwegian side Tromso 4-0 in the August play-off round, arrived in the Conference League as one of the favourites. Their only previous taste of European football came with a run to the last 16 of the 2023-24 Europa League. They will now bid to become the third English winners of this competition in as many years, following Chelsea and Crystal Palace, after West Ham lifted the trophy in 2023.
Elsewhere in the Conference League
Ligue 1 leaders Monaco ground out a 2-1 win at CSKA Sofia, with in-form Germany Under-21 striker Paris Brunner scoring for the seventh time in eight games and Ansu Fati adding a second before the break. Four-time European champions Ajax stumbled to a 2-1 defeat at Hajduk Split, while Atalanta eased past Pafos 3-1. Former Liverpool star Mohamed Salah was on target in Trabzonspor's 4-2 victory away at Finland's KuPS Kuopio, and last season's Europa League runners-up Freiburg continued their fine form with a 3-2 win over Czech side Jablonec. Hearts drew 1-1 with Denmark's Nordsjaelland.
Sources:
Brighton cruise to 4-0 win as Monaco, Atalanta claim Conference League victories — Malay Mail (AFP)
