Brighton Held to Goalless Draw by Tromso
Brighton were held to a goalless draw away to Tromso in the first leg of their Conference League play-off, leaving the tie level heading into next week’s second leg at The Amex.
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The Seagulls, who finished eighth in the Premier League last season and open their domestic campaign against Aston Villa on Sunday, created the better chances in Norway but couldn’t find a way past home goalkeeper Jakob Haugaard. Winger Ibrahim Osman, making his Brighton debut after three loan spells away, was lively throughout the first half, while Yasin Ayari also tested Haugaard with a fine effort later on. Tromso almost snatched a dramatic winner late on, but defender Isak Vadebu dragged his shot wide on the break.
Luka Vuskovic started in Brighton’s defence following his club-record £46million move from Tottenham, with fellow summer signings Zadok Yohanna, Pascal Struijk, Costinha and Michael Svoboda among the substitutes. Midfielder Carlos Baleba, a reported Manchester United target, missed out through an ankle injury, while winger Yankuba Minteh, linked with Liverpool, was also absent.
Brighton’s players had covered the cost of match tickets for the 407 travelling fans who made the trip into the Arctic Circle, and the team made a bright start on the artificial surface at the Romssa Stadium. Osman saw an early effort blocked at the back post before going down under a challenge inside the box, though the resulting penalty appeals were turned away. Tromso, who dropped into the play-offs from Europa League qualifying and sit third in the Eliteserien after 17 games, threatened on the counter through Troy Nyhammer and Lars Olden Larsen. Osman then forced another smart save from Haugaard with a first-time volley, before Brighton defender Olivier Boscagli headed over from a corner as the half drew to a close.
Tromso started the second half on the front foot, with Larsen racing clear only to be denied by a sharp save from Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen. The Seagulls settled back into their rhythm and Ayari again drew a good stop from Haugaard with an angled strike. Boss Fabian Hurzeler turned to his bench with 20 minutes remaining, introducing Charalampos Kostoulas and Amario Cozier-Duberry in place of Diego Gomez and Malick Yalcouye. The substitutes combined almost immediately, Kostoulas heading over from a Cozier-Duberry cross, before Tromso threatened again in the closing stages as Vadebu broke clear down the flank but couldn’t produce a telling finish, leaving the tie finely poised for the return leg.
