Brighton 1-0 Roma (1-4 agg): Player ratings as Seagulls bow out of maiden Europa League campaign

FROM THE AMEX STADIUM — Brighton's maiden Europa League campaign ended valiantly as they beat Roma on the south coast but exited the competition at the last 16 stage after a 4-1 defeat on aggregate.

The Seagulls had moments of momentum and Danny Welbeck got the home fans believing when he thundered one in from distance.

However, the hosts were unable to set up a grandstand finish as Roma protected their first leg advantage well enough to confirm their place in the quarter-finals, with the draw set to take place on Friday.

In their first ever home European knockout game, Brighton were faced with a four-goal deficit to overturn having limped to defeat in Italy's capital last week. Their haste in possession was notable early on, forcing Mile Svilar into an early stop before Welbeck lifted Lewis Dunk's nod across goal over the bar.

A tense opening relaxed somewhat when Gianluca Mancini clattered into Julio Enciso for the game's first booking, though the visitors offered their hosts a scare when Sardar Azmoun collected a loose pass and fired just wide with Bart Verbruggen beaten all ends up.

Nice play down the right saw Pascal Gross collect the ball with a good opening to shoot, but the German's piercing drive arrowed past the post before Azmoun improvised with a bicycle kick at the other end, only for the assistant referee to put his flag up for an earlier infringement.

A few more yellows cards were dished out before Brighton finally opened their account across the tie with a brilliant strike from distance.

Pervis Estupinan wriggled his way down the left before finding Welbeck on the edge of the box. The striker whipped an arching effort well beyond Svilar's reach into the far corner, breathing fresh life into the Albion crowd as