Brighton held goalless by Tromso in Conference League play-off first leg

Brighton’s hopes of reaching the Conference League proper hang in the balance after they were held to a goalless draw by Tromso in the first leg of their play-off tie in Norway. Fabian Hurzeler’s side dominated large spells of the contest at the Romssa Stadium but could not find a breakthrough against a resolute home defence, meaning the Seagulls must win next week’s second leg at the Amex Stadium to progress.

The stalemate leaves Brighton with work still to do just days before they begin their Premier League campaign against Aston Villa on Sunday, having finished eighth in the top flight last season. Tromso, who dropped into the play-offs after failing to progress through Europa League qualifying, sit third in Norway’s Eliteserien and offered stern resistance on their artificial surface.

Osman shines on debut

Winger Ibrahim Osman was the standout performer for the visitors on his Brighton debut, having returned to the club following loan spells at Feyenoord, Auxerre and Birmingham. The 21-year-old Ghanaian saw an early effort blocked and had penalty appeals waved away after going down under a challenge, before later firing in a volley that tested Tromso goalkeeper Jakob Haugaard.

Yasin Ayari also drew a smart save from Haugaard as Brighton pressed for a decisive away goal. Tromso threatened sporadically on the counter through Troy Nyhammer and Lars Olden Larsen, and almost snatched a late winner when defender Isak Vadebu fired wide with the goal at his mercy.

New signing Vuskovic starts, Baleba and Minteh absent

Luka Vuskovic started in central defence for Brighton having only recently completed a club-record £46m move from Tottenham. Fellow summer arrivals Zadok Yohanna, Pascal Struijk, Costinha and Michael Svoboda were among the substitutes as Hurzeler assessed his options ahead of the new domestic season.

There was no place, however, for midfielder Carlos Baleba, who is nursing an ankle injury and has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester United, nor winger Yankuba Minteh, who has been the subject of reported interest from Liverpool this summer. Both would have been notable absentees given their transfer speculation, though Brighton will hope to have them available as the fixture list intensifies.

Brighton had made the long journey into the Arctic Circle in some style off the pitch too, with players reportedly reimbursing the cost of match tickets for the 407 supporters who travelled to Norway to follow the club. Those fans, and thousands more back on the south coast, will now look ahead to next Thursday’s return leg at the Amex, where Brighton know only victory will secure their place in the Conference League group stage proper.

Read more: Liverpool set to return with improved bid for Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh

Sources

• The Independent
• Sky Sports

This is an independent report written from the facts across the sources named above.