João Pedro’s penalty sends Brighton through despite unconvincing win Over 10-Man AEK Athens

Brighton secured their place in the Europa League knockout stages with a narrow victory against 10-man AEK Athens, thanks to João Pedro’s second-half penalty. The Brazilian forward’s goal, his fifth in the competition, ensured Brighton a top-two finish in Group B.

Before the VAR-awarded penalty, Brighton struggled and was fortunate not to concede in the closing stages of the first half when AEK’s Steven Zuber hit the post. The dynamic of the game shifted when AEK’s Mijat Gacinovic received a second yellow card, reducing the hosts to 10 men for the final 25 minutes.

Brighton, now in control of their destiny, will vie for first place in the group and automatic qualification for the last 16 in the final fixture against Marseille at the Amex Stadium.

Brighton’s European campaign, which began with a defeat to AEK Athens, has seen notable performances, including a battling draw in Marseille and consecutive wins over Ajax.

Despite an encouraging start, Brighton faded, and AEK posed a constant threat. Zuber forced a save from Bart Verbruggen, and the hosts had a near miss when Domagoj Vida’s back pass almost resulted in an own goal.

The turning point came after the restart when Pedro earned a penalty after pressure from AEK’s Damian Szymanski. The referee consulted the pitchside monitor, awarded the penalty, and Pedro calmly converted, securing Brighton’s lead against the run of play.

Gacinovic’s red card further strengthened Brighton’s position, and despite a subdued performance, they held on to secure their spot in the knockout stages of the Europa League.