AEK Athens vs Brighton & Hove Albion: Joao Pedro’s Penalty Secures Top-Two Spot for Seagulls in Exciting Victory

Brighton managed to secure a top-two spot in the group with a game to spare after Joao Pedro’s second-half penalty turned the tide in their favor at AEK Athens, despite riding their luck.

AEK had their chances, even after Mijat Gacinovic was sent off, but Brighton held on for a hard-earned and somewhat fortuitous victory.

During the first half, AEK dominated with several close attempts, and had 13 shots on goal, catching Brighton off guard. Despite only having 43% possession, Brighton took the lead 10 minutes into the second half, when Pedro converted a penalty against the run of play.

The win secures a top-two finish for Brighton, meaning they will at least play a play-off game against a third-place team from the Champions League. The top spot will be decided when they host Marseille on December 14.

Crouch and Sidwell summed it up perfectly at full-time. “Not their finest night,” admitted Crouch. “Not pretty,” added Sidwell.

But crucially: three points. With nine players missing through injury or suspension, a victory on the road will be all that matters for De Zerbi, whose squad is looking stretched as they juggle Europe with domestic football.

Beat Marseille and they will avoid the play-offs and head straight into the last 16. Given their list of absentees, two fewer matches come the New Year will be just what they need.

Orbelin Pineda deserves credit for taking the game to Brighton, but crucially the Seagulls left this match with three points and a clean sheet thanks to Lewis Dunk, a giant at the back – once again.

AEK Athens: Stankovic 6; Rota 6, Vida 7, Moukoudi 6, Hajsafi 7; Szymanski 7; Amrabat 6, Mantalos 7, Pineda 7, Gacinovic 5; Zuber 7. Subs: Araujo 6, Ponce 6, Eliasson 6, Pizarro n/a.

Brighton: Verbruggen 6; Veltman 6, Dunk 8, Igor 7, Hinshelwood 6; Gross 5, Gilmour 6; Adingra 6, Pedro 6, Mitoma 5; Ferguson 5. Subs: Milner 6, Dahoud 6, Duffus n/a.

32’ WIDE!! That was close… The corner finds Zuber whose glancing header looks as though it might nestle into the far corner from one angle. Instead, it sails narrowly wide.

44’ – OFF THE POST! That is some tidy footwork from Zuber inside the area, and his effort from a tight angle deflects off Dunk and rattles the near post. Gacinovic cannot turn in the rebound and it’s a let-off for Brighton, just as Zuber heads it straight at Verbruggen.

52’ SAVE! AEK are on the attack and Mantalos pulls it back for Gacinovic, whose effort from the edge of the area is straight at Verbruggen but has some fizz on it, forcing the Brighton ‘keeper to get one hand to it and parry it away.

54’ VAR CHECK – PENALTY TO BRIGHTON Sandro Scharer has been sent to the pitchside monitor… Pedro gets goal-side of Szymanski and goes down in the AEK box. Scharer has a quick watch and gives the penalty to Brighton! What a glorious chance.

55’ GOAL! AEK ATHENS 0-1 BRIGHTON (JOAO PEDRO) Joao Pedro makes no mistake from the spot! Brighton’s No 9 sends Stankovic the wrong way and the Seagulls are on course to reach the knockouts with a game to spare! They haven’t been at their best, and yet they’re ahead!

66’ GACINOVIC IS OFF It’s going from bad to worse for AEK and particularly Gacinovic. Veltman gets to the ball a split-second before the AEK player, and on a yellow card already, it’s a second booking after he treads on the boot of the Brighton defender. He didn’t mean it, but he was too late, and now he’s off…

75’ CLOSE!! Down the other end, Pineda is a whisker away from levelling for AEK. A huge warning! His attempt looks as though it comes off Dunk when going wide of the far post, but it’s a goal kick and a reprieve for Brighton.