EZE DOES IT

Seagulls suffer Greek tragedy

- NEIL MCLEMAN

BRIGHTON 2

AEK ATHENS 3

BRAZILIAN Joao Pedro first scored Brighton's European goals from VAR penalties last night but it was the Albion defence who bore gifts to the visiting Greek champions.

The Seagulls had waited 122 years to make their first appearance in European competition.

But a sold-out Amex Stadium saw  Athens twice take the lead from set-pieces and Estonian referee Kristo Tohver twice miss blatant fouls on Pedro before intervened.

Both times Pedro got up and scored from the spot in a hectic night in the rain.

But as Brighton chased a late winner, Ezequiel Ponce scored an 84th-minute winner to spoil the home club's first European party.

Brighton badly missed the aerial presence of injured England defender Lewis Dunk.