Brighton hold Tromso to goalless draw, eye second-leg advantage

First-Leg Overview

Brighton & Hove Albion finished the first leg of their Conference League play-off against Tromsø with a 0-0 draw in Norway. The match, played at Tromsø’s home ground, saw the Seagulls create several promising chances but were unable to find the back of the net against keeper Jakob Haugaard. Brighton’s manager Fabian Hurzeler said the team “created opportunities, but in the end we have to be satisfied with a draw, although it’s not the result we hoped for.”

Key Performances

Ibrahim Osman, making his Brighton debut after three loan spells, was particularly lively in the first half, while winger Yasin Ayari forced another decent stop from Haugaard later in the game. In defence, Hurzeler started Luka Vuskovic, who had recently joined the club for a club-record £46 million move from Tottenham Hotspur. Vuskovic’s presence helped contain Tromsø’s attack, but the Seagulls still struggled to maintain fluidity on the artificial pitch.

Manager’s Analysis

Hurzeler noted that Tromsø “defended well, very compact. They had a lot of players in their box who blocked the shots well, and they had a really good goalkeeper and were good in transition.” He added that Brighton “controlled the game, but we weren’t quick enough in possession.” The manager pointed out that Tromsø had “two big chances after transition moments” and that Brighton needed to defend better in those situations.

Looking Ahead

The Seagulls will face Tromsø again in the second leg at the Amex Stadium, where they hope to secure a win in front of their own fans. Hurzeler said, “Now we are looking forward to the opportunity to win the game in front of our own fans. There are certain aspects we have to improve against Tromsø. Overall, they are a good football team so we will have to play on our highest level to win the game at the Amex.”

Domestic Calendar

Brighton will open the new domestic campaign against Aston Villa on Super Sunday, adding pressure to perform in the upcoming second leg of the play-off. The club’s focus remains on tightening possession, improving transition defence, and capitalising on the chances they create in the decisive match at home.