Brighton seal Conference League place with ruthless 4-0 demolition of Tromso at the Amex

Brighton secured their place in the UEFA Conference League league phase with a 4-0 aggregate victory over Tromso, completing the job at the Amex Stadium on Thursday evening after a frustrating 0-0 draw in Norway the previous week.

The Seagulls had mustered 25 attempts without reward in the first leg, but Fabian Hurzeler’s side were far more clinical at home. Charalampos Kostoulas opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, turning to fire a first-time finish into the bottom-right corner from 20 yards after Maxim De Cuyper dispossessed Tromso right-back Isak Dahlquist deep in the visitors’ half — Kostoulas’ first goal since January.

Tromso’s habit of playing out from the back under pressure proved costly again in the 33rd minute. Substitute Leon Hien, introduced early after Vetle Skjaervik was injured, was caught in possession inside his own box following a short goal-kick, and De Cuyper seized on the error to slot home his second goal in as many games.

Brighton added a third five minutes later when Olivier Boscagli’s low cross deflected off Kostoulas’ heels and fell to Mats Wieffer, who took a touch before lashing the ball into the bottom-left corner. The home crowd, still buoyant after Sunday’s 4-0 Premier League win over Aston Villa, greeted the goal with chants of “Are you Villa in disguise?”

With one eye on Sunday’s top-flight trip to Chelsea, Hurzeler made conservative changes at half-time, bringing on summer signings Pascal Struijk and Costinha for captain Lewis Dunk and Wieffer. Brighton controlled the second half without pressing for further goals, though Boscagli had a close-range finish ruled out for offside after Jakob Haugaard parried Pascal Gross’ effort.

Boscagli did complete the scoring four minutes from time, taking a touch from a partially cleared cross before driving a low shot from just outside the penalty area into the net to confirm Brighton’s place in Friday’s Conference League draw.

Before kick-off, the club unveiled new signing Jaouen Hadjam, the Algeria left-back who joined from Swiss champions Young Boys. A minute’s applause was also held in memory of former Brighton manager Mike Bailey, who died last week at the age of 84.