Brighton opened their Conference League play-off campaign with a stubborn 0-0 draw against Tromso in Norway on Thursday. The Premier League side controlled possession but lacked a cutting edge against a compact defence, leaving the tie level ahead of the return leg at the Amex Stadium next week.
Laboured Offence and Missed Chances in Norway
Playing their first competitive match of the 2026/27 season, the Seagulls faced a Norwegian outfit sitting midway through their domestic campaign. Fabian Hurzeler’s side controlled the tempo on the pitch, yet struggled to break down a deeply entrenched defensive block.
Brighton missed several key openings across both halves. Just before the interval, Gross delivered a corner that found Boscagli unmarked in the middle, but the defender headed over the crossbar. Later in the second half, substitute Cozier-Duberry delivered a cross for Kostoulas, who also missed the target from a promising position.
Key Saves Keep Tromso Level
Tromso goalkeeper Haugaard proved vital for the hosts throughout the fixture. In the 29th minute, Rutter struck a powerful effort from 25 yards out, forcing Haugaard to dive to his left and push the ball wide. From the resulting corner, Osman chested down a loose ball and lashed a volley toward goal, only for Haugaard to react brilliantly and tip it away for another corner.
The hosts also threatened on the counter-attack. Early in the second half, Edvardsson picked out Heine Larsen, prompting Brighton goalkeeper Verbruggen to rush off his line and make a crucial stop. Late in the match, a defensive error by Vuskovic allowed Vadebu a clean run on goal, but the Tromso player shot wide of the post.
Managerial Reaction and What Lies Ahead
Speaking to club media after the final whistle, Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler acknowledged the tactical difficulty posed by their opponents while pointing out areas for improvement before the return leg.
“We expected exactly how Tromso played. They defended well, very compact. They had a lot of players in their box who blocked the shots well, and they had a really good goalkeeper and were good in transition.”
Before hosting the second leg of the Conference League play-off, Brighton will turn their attention to domestic action. The club prepares to host Aston Villa in their opening fixture of the 2026/27 Premier League season.
