Brighton 2-0 Ajax: Ansu Fati on target as Seagulls claim famous victory over Dutch giants in Europa League

Brighton secured their first win in Europe, completely outplaying fallen giants Ajax in a 2-0 victory on a famous night at the Amex Stadium in the UEFA Europa League.

The visitors are four-time European champions, but are in a rut right now, down in the relegation zone in the Eredivisie and without a permanent manager. And Brighton compounded Ajax’s woes with a controlled and impressive display that belied The Seagulls’ own troubles of a mounting injury list.

Brighton struggled to turn their possession into chances in a one-sided first-half, but finally took the lead when Kaoru Mitoma’s shot was saved back into the path of the onrushing Joao Pedro, who continued his impact in front of goal to give the home side the lead.

And Ansu Fati made the game comfortable after the break with a lovely finish.

Brighton survived one scare when Steven Berghuis hit the post on a rare foray forward from Ajax. But the Netherlands international was withdrawn soon after with the visiting team seemingly resigned to the defeat.

It was almost exhibition football from Brighton as the clock ticked down, and the south-coast faithful relished the opportunity to celebrate a historic win – the club’s first in European competition against one of the continent’s great clubs.

Brighton’s injury list is becoming a real issue, with De Zerbi revealing that Solly March and Danny Welbeck are both going to be absent for some time. Those two are just part of a lengthy injury list, with Julio Enciso, Jakub Moder, Pervis Estupinan and Tariq Lamptey also unavailable.

Given that context, it was even more impressive that Brighton were able to completely dominate the game, looking head and shoulders the best side on the night.

This result keeps their Europa League campaign alive after just the one point from the first two games.

Brighton’s winger was a constant threat on the left flank, leaving Ajax chasing shadows at times.

It was his moment of individual brilliance that ended with the ball squirting out to Joao Pedro for the opener, and he could well have got on the scoresheet himself on another night.

With Mitoma in the side anything’s possible for The Seagulls.

Brighton: Steele 8; Veltman 7, Dunk 7, Van Hecke 7, Gross 7; Gilmour 8, Milner 7; Adingra 7, Ansu Fati 8, Mitoma 8; Joao Pedro 8. Subs: Buonanotte 7, Ferguson 7, Webster 6, Dahoud 6

Ajax: Ramaj 6; Gaaei 5, Sutalo 5, Hato 6, Sosa 5; Taylor 6, Tahirovic 5, Berghuis 6; Forbs 4, Brobbey 6, Bergwijn 5. Subs: Hlynsson 6, Godts 5, Van den Boomen 6, Ackpom 5, Vos 5

42' - GOAL! Brighton have the lead and it’s Joao Pedro! Great work from Mitoma gets the winger into space in the box, and he has a go for goal. The save is good, but the loose ball rebounds to the feet of the forward, and he makes no mistake. 1-0!

53' - GOAL! Ansu Fati does brilliantly, controlling with his first touch after a clever run into the box, and flicking his shot through the legs of the defender and past the keeper with his second to make it 2-0.

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