Brighton up and running with win over Ajax

EUROPA LEAGUE

BRIGHTON 2 AJAX 0 

BRIGHTON’S Europa League campaign is up and running. The club’s first ever European victory, secured by goals from Joao Pedro and Ansu Fati, moved them to within a point of the top Group B and confirmed Roberto De Zerbi’s side are growing increasingly comfortable in their new surroundings.

De Zerbi, the head coach, had attempted to play down the importance of this game beforehand but after claiming just one point from their opening two games against AEK Athens and Marseille, it was clear that anything less than victory would be a significant setback to Brighton’s hopes of advancing to the knockout stages.

In the end the win was achieved comfortably. Both goals came after incisive moves with Fati in particular producing an outstanding finish and the manner of the victory came against a club with the enviable pedigree of Ajax only added to the sense of occasion at the Amex Stadium. Less than 30 years after narrowly avoiding relegation to non-league, they savoured a memorable triumph against a club that features so prominently in the history of European football.

De Zerbi’s belief that his side is growing familiar to the demands of European football was strengthened by the second half display in Marseille when they recovered to claim a point having trailed by two goals at the break. And the visit of Ajax was always likely to provide a test of that progress, even if the Amsterdam club has endured a dismal start to their domestic campaign hat has left them second bottom of the Eredivisie, costing coach Maurice Steijn.

The early stages underlined the need for Brighton to be patient in their search for a breakthrough. The Dutch side appeared happy to drop back towards their own goal and