AEK shock Brighton at their Europa League debut

AEK Athens FC defeated Brighton 3-2 at Amex Stadium, and despite being the big favorite to win the match, the Seagulls lost their European competition debut at their stadium.

Brighton’s first European adventure ends in defeat at the hands of AEK Athens.#BHAFC | #UEL pic.twitter.com/lpNRJvUtse

— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) September 21, 2023

Djibril Sidibe scored the 1^st goal in the 11^th minute as the Greek team took the lead, but Joao Pedro equalized in the 30^th minute after converting a penalty. However, AEK had the lead after the 1^st half after Mijat Gacinovic netted in the 40^th minute for 2-1.

Brighton (2.73) 2-3 (1.11) AEK Athens

— The xG Philosophy 🇪🇺 (@xGPhilosophyEU) September 21, 2023

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Surprisingly or not, Brighton tied the match again after a penalty in the 67^th minute as again Joao Pedro was the one who took it and converted it.

When everyone expected that the Premier League club would try to win the 3 points until the end, the opposite happened, and Ezequiel Ponce scored the winning goal in the 84^th minute. The referee gave 13 additional minutes, but the Seagulls failed to score and tie the game for a 3^rd time and lost their debut in the European tournament.

◉ Brighton are the first English side to lose their debut European game since Blackburn Rovers in 1994-95.

◉ AEK Athens have beaten English opposition for the first time since 1977.

Not the welcome to European football the Seagulls were hoping for. 😩 pic.twitter.com/iqQJAWG0iW

— Squawka (@Squawka) September 21, 2023