- Brighton entered the second leg with a 4-0 deficit to come back against Roma
- The Italian team, which lost the 2023 final on penalties, is qualified for the quarterfinals
- “He’s the only Premier League player I WOULD PAY to watch” Which star has IAN LADYMAN fascinated? – Everything is starting podcast
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Brighton salvaged some pride by beating Roma, but the miracle required was beyond their means as Roberto De Zerbi’s men left Europe at the Amex Stadium.
While West Ham won 5-0 and Liverpool 6-1 (two goals that would have suited Brighton), Roma held firm after Danny Welbeck’s sensational first-half goal.
Even a 4-0 Aston Villa victory would have been enough to send this tie into extra time. Instead, Brighton’s European adventure has come to an end and the team sitting eighth in the Premier League must now focus on a strong end to the season to secure another.
We had witnessed some famous comebacks in the second legs of European football: Liverpool beat Barcelona 4-0 after losing 3-0 in 2019; Barcelona beat Paris Saint-Germain 6-1 after losing 4-0 in 2017; Deportivo La Coruña beat AC Milan 4-0 after losing 4-1 in 2004.
What all of those comebacks had in common was that the goals were scored within the first 10 minutes, but Roma avoided succumbing to Brighton’s early dominance here.
Danny Welbeck’s first-half goal was enough to give Brighton a 1-0 win that night, but it wasn’t enough to reverse the brutal 4-0 defeat they suffered against Roma in the first leg last week. .
The former England international scored in the 37th minute to give Brighton a 1-0 lead.
Lewis Dunk applauds the fans after Brighton saved some pride with a 1-0 win that night
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Neither Jan Paul van Hecke nor Lewis Dunk could finish off crosses to ensure that quick advance. While Liverpool took a 4-0 lead inside 14 minutes at Anfield, Brighton saw opportunities wasted at the Amex, with Billy Gilmour volleying and Pascal Gross wasted.
In the 22nd minute, Roma scored with a good acrobatic shot by Sardar Azmoun that beat Bart Verbruggen. He was disallowed for a high foot that the Italians insisted was harsh, earning coach Daniele De Rossi a booking for complaining.
Before the break, Welbeck made it 1-0 by finding the top corner from 18 yards in style, giving Brighton hope they could follow up with a quick second goal.
There were bags, as Gianluca Mancini did a disservice to Italy’s reputation for feigning injury when he acted as if Van Hecke had violently head-butted him. Lorenzo Pellegrini pushed Pervis Estupinan next as Brighton took the lead at half-time.
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino and co-sporting director Paul Winstanley were at the Amex to watch this match in person. Romelu Lukaku, on loan at Roma, scored in the first leg but did not travel for this return game on the South Coast.
Roberto De Zerbi’s team hopes to regroup and finish the Premier League campaign strong
Jan Paul van Hecke puts his hands on his head after wasting a golden opportunity for Brighton
De Zerbi receives a yellow card from referee Felix Zwaye during the second leg
At the start of the second half, Welbeck came within an inch of heading in Ansu Fati’s fabulous cross, introduced by De Zerbi as they looked to increase the pressure on Roma. Needing three unanswered goals, Simon Adingra should have buried a brilliant cross from Gross.
Roma still posed a threat with Leonardo Spinazzola hitting the corner post after a splendid run, although it was largely Brighton who were in charge.
In the end, Brighton had taken 21 shots, but only five on target. That told the story of a night in which they had enough scoring opportunities, but lacked the clinical finishing necessary to achieve their European elimination.
