Brighton coasted to a 4-0 win over Lithuanian opponents Kauno Zalgiris to launch their UEFA Conference League bid Thursday, while Ligue 1 leaders Monaco earned a 2-1 victory at CSKA Sofia.
In-form striker Paris Brunner scored for the seventh time in eight games as Monaco won in Bulgaria. Freiburg, last season’s Europa League runners-up and surprise Bundesliga pacesetters this term, continued their fine form with a 3-2 win over Czech side Jablonec, while Hearts drew 1-1 with Danish outfit Nordsjaelland.
Georginio Rutter slotted in a cutback from Ibrahim Osman as Brighton took the lead late in the first half at the Amex, with the goal awarded after a VAR review as the Ghanaian just managed to keep the ball in play. Matt O’Riley headed in his first goal in over a year to complete the rout and the Seagulls extended their winning run in all competitions to five matches.
We are very happy to start the competition like this, we have a good side, we are in good shape at the moment, so we have to keep going,” Rutter told TNT Sports. “I’m very happy to have two goals today, but more importantly is the three points.
Brighton beat Norwegian side Tromso 4-0 in the play-off round in August to reach the league phase. Their only past taste of European football came when they reached the last 16 of the 2023-24 Europa League. “It’s not every time one player.
We are a good team, everybody scores and everybody assists so I think the atmosphere of the team at the moment is very good,” said Rutter.
