Ajax 0-2 Brighton: Ansu Fati and Simon Adingra edge Seagulls closer to Europa League knockouts with historic victory
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Updated 09/11/2023 at 20:56 GMT
Goals from Ansu Fati and Simon Adingra temporarily fired Brighton to the top of their Europa League group following an impressive 2-0 win over Ajax. Victory at the Johan Cruyff Arena not only puts Roberto De Zebri's side in a great position to advance to the knockout stage, but also marked a first ever away victory in European competition in the club's history.
Ansu Fati celebrates after scoring his side’s first goal with Simon Adingra during the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 Group B match between AFC Ajax and Brighton & Hove Albion at the Johan Cruyff ArenA on November 9, 2023 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Image credit: Getty Images
Brighton secured a famous 2-0 victory over Ajax in Thursday's UEFA Europa League Group B match.
Both sides made a positive start to the match, looking to get forward quickly and take the game to the opponent.
Brighton were handed a gift after 14 minutes to go 1-0 up. Silvano Vos played a poor pass which was intercepted by Simon Adingra who was able to slip in Ansu Fati and the 21-year-old Spaniard did the rest, firing past Diant Ramaj. Fati still had work to do when he received the ball but an impeccable first touch meant he had put himself in a terrific position to fire home.
Brighton doubled their lead just 10 minutes into the second half following a wonderful move. Fati was able to release Adingra on the right-hand side who thumped his finish past Ramaj.
Ajax had a huge chance to pull one back in the 75th minute when Brian Brobbey met Carlos Forbs’ cross but Brobbey’s effort could only strike both posts and straddle along the goal-line before being scrambled away.
Ajax huffed and puffed in the second half, moving the ball with more intensity and purpose, committing more players forward in attack but ultimately it too little too late for the hosts as Brighton were able to weather the storm and see out a famous victory in Amsterdam.
The win gives Roberto De Zerbi's side seven points from four games in Group B with AEK Athens and Marseille to follow.
Talking point - Learning on the job
The best word to describe Brighton’s performance is accomplished. From start to finish, De Zerbi’s men were fantastic, with and without the ball they looked like a team who had 10+ European campaigns under their belt. The reality is, they are learning on the job each time they step foot onto the grass in European competition.
It is a historic night for the club as it marks Brighton’s first ever European away win and what a place to get it in. The Seagulls kicked off their Europa League campaign with a 3-2 defeat against AEK Athens and in their second match they found themselves 2-0 down after 20 minutes against Marseille. But ever since that second half in France, Brighton haven’t looked back.
This result marks the first time they’ve won consecutive matches in European competition (both vs Ajax) and has sent Brighton to the top of the group for the time being.
Player of the match - Ansu Fati (Brighton)
The 21-year-old Barcelona loanee was sensational for Brighton. He was at the heart of everything good that his side did in attack, getting on the ball in tight spaces and playing forward into dangerous areas. He misplaced just one (1!) pass all evening, completing 26 of his 27, with one of those passes being the assist for Simon Adingra's goal.
It was Fati who opened the scoring, taking an excellent first touch to give himself room to shoot before calmly finishing past Ramaj. A thoroughly impressive European performance from a top talent.
Player ratings
Ajax: Ramaj 6, Gaeei 6, Rensch 6, Sutalo 7, Hato 6, Vos 5, Hlynsson 6, Taylor 7, Berghuis 6, Brobbey 6, Bergwijn 6 Subs: Akpom 7, Forbs 7, Sosa 6, Tahirovic 6, Mikautadze
Brighton: Verbruggen 7, Milner N/A, Dunk 6, van Hecke 7, Veltman 7, Dahoud 6, Gross 7, Mitoma 6, Fati 9, Adingra 8, Pedro 7 Subs: Gilmour 6, Julio 6, Estupinan N/A, Ferguson 7, Baleba 6
Match highlights
15’ GOAL - BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION - Ansu Fati has fired Brighton ahead after an Ajax error! Vos plays a poor ball which is intercepted by Adingra who finds Ansu Fati who finishes brilliantly. That is how costly mistakes can be at this level!
45+2 BIG CHANCE, BIG SAVE! Adingra fires an effort on target but Diant Ramaj sticks out a leg to deny him and Brighton have a corner. A good effort and a better save.
55’ GOAL - BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION - An absolutely excellent goal from Simon Adingra has put Brighton 2-0 up! The Seagulls move the ball wonderfully through midfield and into the attacking third before Ansu Fati feeds the ball out right to Simon Adingra who thumps it into the back of the net.
76' HOW HAS THAT NOT GONE IN!? - Carlos Forbs fires in a brilliant cross and Brian Brobbey meets it with a strike that looked a certain goal, the ball struck both posts and straddled along the goal line but the referees watch did not buzz to indicate a goal! So close to a goal for Ajax.
Key stat
Brighton and Hove Albion have won their first ever European away match.
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