Brighton: Brighton and Hove Albion made a strong start to their UEFA Conference League campaign with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Lithuania’s Kauno Zalgiris at the Amex Stadium.
Georginio Rutter scored twice, while Jack Hinshelwood and Matt O’Riley added a goal each to seal the win. Brighton made eight changes from the side that beat Sunderland 2-0 but still controlled the match and kept the visitors under pressure.
Rutter Scores Twice as Brighton Take Control
Brighton created chances early, with Hinshelwood forcing goalkeeper Tomas Svedkauskas into a save with a header. Pascal Gross also tested the visiting goalkeeper with a free-kick from a tight angle.
Rutter opened the scoring after being set up by Ibrahim Osman. Hinshelwood then extended Brighton’s lead with a goal shortly before half-time, giving the hosts a two-goal advantage at the break.
The first goal had initially been ruled out before a VAR review allowed it to stand.
O’Riley Completes the 4-0 Win
Brighton continued in the same fashion after the break. Osman and Rutter combined again in the 53rd minute, with the French forward finishing a move similar to his first goal to make it 3-0.
O’Riley added the fourth with a header from debutant Younes Ibrahim’s cross. Brighton pushed for another goal, but Svedkauskas denied O’Riley with a diving header save as the hosts settled for a four-goal victory.
The result gave Brighton an encouraging start to their Conference League league-phase campaign.
Salah Shines in Other Conference League Action
Elsewhere, Mohamed Salah recorded a goal and an assist, taking his tally to 65 goals in UEFA club competitions, while teammate Dju Franculino scored twice in Trabzonspor’s 4-2 victory over KuPS Kuopio.
Monaco began their campaign with a 2-1 away win against CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria. German striker Paris Brunner scored the opener and set up Ansu Fati for the second.
Freiburg also started with a win, beating Czech side Jablonec 3-2 at home. Vincenzo Grifo set the German team on their way with a well-taken free-kick.