Brighton Held in Arctic Stalemate Against Tromso
Three hundred kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, Brighton’s second European adventure froze in its tracks. The Premier League side dominated long spells in Tromso yet left Norway with only a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League play-off.
On a crisp night built for concentration rather than flair, Brighton carved out the clearer chances but lacked the finish to match their control.
Brighton on top, but no breakthrough
Jakob Haugaard was the main reason Tromso travel to England still very much alive in the tie. The home goalkeeper twice stood tall in the first half, first denying Georginio Rutter and then Ibrahim Osman with sharp, instinctive saves as Brighton began to turn the screw.
Fabian Hurzeler’s side dictated tempo and territory, recycling possession and probing patiently. Yet every missed chance kept the crowd believing, and Tromso grew braver on the break.
The warning signs arrived when Heine Larsen burst clear on a counter-attack, only for Bart Verbruggen to read the situation and block. That moment jolted Brighton, but it didn’t change the pattern: control without incision.
Then came the scare that could have rewritten the tie. Late on, with Brighton pushing for a winner, Isak Vadebu found himself with a golden opportunity for Tromso. He squandered it, letting the visitors off the hook and preserving parity ahead of the return leg.
Vuskovic debuts as Brighton juggle Europe and rumours
There was at least one landmark for the Seagulls. Hurzeler handed a debut to Luka Vuskovic, the defender making his first appearance since a club-record move from Tottenham. In a game that demanded composure, the new signing was dropped straight into the European spotlight.
Brighton were missing Carlos Baleba and Yankuba Minteh, both sidelined by injury. Their absence did little to quiet the noise around them, with Baleba linked to Manchester United and Minteh attracting interest from Liverpool.
The goalless draw leaves the tie delicately poised ahead of next Thursday’s return at the Amex, where Brighton will expect to turn dominance into goals. Before that, though, they must reset quickly: Aston Villa visit on Sunday as the Premier League campaign kicks off.
Naderi strikes as 10-man Rangers cling on
Back in Glasgow, Rangers found a way. It was not pretty, and it was not comfortable, but Derek McInnes’ team claimed a 1-0 win over Czech side Jablonec to seize control of their own play-off.
Ryan Naderi delivered the decisive moment early in the second half, finishing the one chance that truly mattered on a tense night. Once ahead, Rangers looked set to push on. Instead, they were dragged into a scrap.
Cammy Devlin’s dismissal shifted the tone completely, forcing the hosts to dig in and defend their narrow lead with 10 men. The final whistle brought more relief than celebration, but the job was done: an advantage, however slim, to take into the second leg.
McInnes’ side also carried the flag for Scotland. Of the three Scottish clubs in Conference League action, Rangers were the only winners. Hearts twice led but were pegged back in a 2-2 draw at home to Rapid Vienna, while Motherwell were undone 3-1 by last season’s Europa League runners-up Freiburg.
For Brighton, the question now is simple: can home comforts thaw their European campaign, or will Tromso’s missed chances in the Arctic come back to haunt them?
