lead-art-block.fullscreen-enterExpandFabian Hurzeler applauds the fans after Brighton’s thumping win
Fabian Hurzeler applauds the fans after Brighton’s thumping win
Fabian Hurzeler admitted his squad members stepped up and gave him food for thought after Brighton got their Conference League campaign off to a flying start.
Georginio Rutter was the prime example, having lost his place to teenage hot-shot Charalampos Kostoulas in the Albion team, as the French forward scored twice and created another in a 4-0 win over Lithuanian champions Kauno Zalgiris.
Jack Hinshelwood and Matt O’Riley were also on target, and Seagulls boss Hurzeler said at his post-match press conference: “We showed a good performance, a disciplined performance, a performance where we kept a clean sheet and a performance where a lot of players used the opportunities.
“This will be key for the season, that we can really rely on each other.”
Brighton’s pressure against the Baltic minnows finally told five minutes before half-time when Ibrahim Osman raced to the byline and pulled the ball back for Rutter to sidefoot home from 10 yards.
The goal was initially disallowed due to the ball appearing to be out of play before Osman cut it back, but a VAR check showed it had stayed in.
Brighton doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time with a carbon-copy goal, Rutter this time pulling back for Hinshelwood to finish into the far corner.
Tomas Svedkauskas kept out a Hinshelwood header just after the break before the Seagulls, who reached the last 16 of the Europa League in 2023/24, grabbed a third.
Malick Yalcouye’s superb through-ball sent Osman clear and he squared for Rutter to roll home his second of the night.
O’Riley grabbed the fourth, moments after he had hit a post, when he headed home a cross from substitute and debutant Younes Ibrahim to wrap up a fine European evening’s work on the south coast.
Rutter told TNT Sports: “I’m very happy to have two goals but more important is the three points.
“We are very happy to start the competition like this. I think we have a good side. We’re in good shape at the moment, so we have to keep going.
“It’s not every time like one player. Everybody scores, everybody assists and I think the atmosphere of the team at the moment is very good.”
Hinshelwood, who made his first appearance since August after an ankle injury, added: “It’s nice just to be back with the boys. They’ve been on such a good run that I’ve really missed it out there.
“It was a job well done today and it was a full squad performance. We just want to keep improving every game.”
A lot of players grasped their opportunities – Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler