UEFA Conference League: Brighton frustrated in goalless draw

Brighton were held to a rare goalless draw by Czech side Jablonec in the Conference League on Thursday night. 

The Premier League’s leading scorers, who had netted 23 goals in their first seven matches of the season, failed to find the net in northern Czechia, in the foothills of the Jizera Mountains.

Jablonec coach Lubos Kozel had claimed his team would need a miracle to take anything from the fixture against the favorites. 

In the end, a below-par Brighton performance proved enough for the hosts to take a valuable point, and they might even have taken all three.

Around 1,000 traveling Seagulls supporters made the journey from the Sussex coast to the compact Stadion Strelnice in Jablonec and Nisou. 

These remain exciting times for Brighton, who sit third in the English top flight after Sunday’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Crystal Palace.

Manager Fabian Hurzeler, marking his 100th match in charge, rotated heavily and made eight changes from that win. 

Only goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, defender Olivier Boscagli and the ever-present Pascal Gross retained their places in the starting lineup.

Brighton dominated possession early on and pinned Jablonec back for the opening 20 minutes. Jack Hinshelwood saw a shot saved by home goalkeeper Jan Hanus, while Gross and Ibrahim Osman both missed the target.

 The Czech side eventually forced a corner that Antonín Rusek headed narrowly wide. Verbruggen also had to react quickly to smother a clever backheel from the same player.

The visitors still had few clear chances before the break. Gross released Georginio Rutter, but he dragged his effort across the face of goal. Boscagli later fired over from distance.

Early in the second half Osman shot wide after good work from Rutter, and Malick Yalcouye had the ball in the net only to be ruled offside. 

Osman then played ,Matt O’Riley in, but his dangerous cross eluded Rutter. After Osman blazed another opportunity over the bar, Hurzeler introduced four substitutes: Chema Andres, Luka Vuskovic, Yasin Ayari and Promise David.

The changes brought little improvement. Jablonec grew in confidence late on. Rusek nearly punished a mistake by Joao Costinha, and Verbruggen produced a superb fingertip save to deny Jiri Slama’s powerful drive. 

Rutter, who scored twice in Brighton’s earlier 4-0 win over Kauno Zalgiris, had a late chance in stoppage time, but Hanus beat his snapshot.