Brighton Begin Conference League Campaign with 4-0 Victory as Monaco Win and Ajax Suffer Defeat
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
Brighton and Hove Albion made an impressive start to their UEFA Conference League campaign with a 4-0 victory over Lithuania’s Kauno Zalgiris on Thursday. Meanwhile, AS Monaco secured a 2-1 away win against CSKA Sofia, while Dutch giants Ajax lost 2-1 to Hajduk Split.
Brighton opened the scoring late in the first half when Georginio Rutter converted a pass from Ibrahim Osman following a VAR review. Rutter then turned provider, setting up Jack Hinshelwood for the second goal just before half-time.
The French forward scored again in the 53rd minute to complete his brace, before Matt O’Riley added the fourth with a header. The result extended Brighton’s winning streak across all competitions to five matches.
Speaking after the game, Rutter expressed satisfaction with his goals and the team’s successful start to the competition. He also praised the squad’s collective contribution, highlighting the importance of teamwork and the positive atmosphere within the group.
Brighton previously defeated Norwegian side Tromso 4-0 in the qualifying play-offs to reach the league phase. Having reached the last 16 of the Europa League in the 2023-24 season, the English club will now aim to make a strong impact in the Conference League.
Monaco also enjoyed a successful evening in Bulgaria. Paris Brunner continued his impressive scoring form by putting the French side ahead early, while Ansu Fati extended the advantage before the break. CSKA Sofia reduced the deficit through Joel Zwarts, but Monaco held on to claim all three points.
Elsewhere, four-time European champions Ajax were beaten 2-1 away by Hajduk Split. Atalanta recorded a comfortable 3-1 win over Pafos, while Trabzonspor defeated Finland’s KuPS Kuopio 4-2, with Mohamed Salah among the scorers.
German side Freiburg maintained their strong form with a 3-2 victory over Czech opponents Jablonec. Hearts, meanwhile, drew 1-1 with Danish club Nordsjaelland.
The opening round delivered contrasting results across the competition, with Brighton and Monaco making winning starts while Ajax faced an early setback.
