Brighton & Hove Albion vs Kauno Zalgiris, 2026-27 UEFA Conference League, League Phase

· UEFA Conference League

Brighton & Hove Albion

41': Georginio Rutter
45'+2': Jack Hinshelwood
53': Georginio Rutter
67': Matt O'Riley

FT
4 - 0

Kauno Zalgiris

Rutter sends message to Hürzeler with brace as Brighton cruise past Kauno Zalgiris

Georginio Rutter got Brighton's Conference League campaign off to a flying start and sent a message to boss Fabian Hürzeler.

Match Timeline

0': Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
0': First Half begins.
2': Attempt missed. Costinha (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Olivier Boscagli with a cross.
5': Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Aldayr Hernández.
10': Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Aldayr Hernández.
11': Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Anton Tolordava.
11': Attempt blocked. Olivier Boscagli (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Pascal Groß.
11': Attempt blocked. Matt O'Riley (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
11': Attempt blocked. Olivier Boscagli (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
12': Foul by Fabien Ourega (Kauno Zalgiris).
12': Ibrahim Osman (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
12': Fabien Ourega (Kauno Zalgiris) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
14': Attempt saved. Pascal Groß (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is saved in the top centre of the goal by Tomas Svedkauskas (Kauno Zalgiris).
14': Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Tomas Svedkauskas.
15': Joris Moutachy (Kauno Zalgiris) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
15': Foul by Ibrahim Osman (Brighton and Hove Albion).
16': Yukiyoshi Karashima (Kauno Zalgiris) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
16': Foul by Jack Hinshelwood (Brighton and Hove Albion).
16': Attempt missed. Aldayr Hernández (Kauno Zalgiris) header from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Léo Ribeiro with a cross following a set piece situation.
19': Franco Baldassarra (Kauno Zalgiris) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
19': Foul by Malick Yalcouyé (Brighton and Hove Albion).
22': Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Aldayr Hernández.
22': Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Yukiyoshi Karashima.
23': Attempt missed. Michael Svoboda (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from a difficult angle on the right is just a bit too high. Assisted by Pascal Groß with a cross following a corner.
25': Franco Baldassarra (Kauno Zalgiris) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
25': Foul by Malick Yalcouyé (Brighton and Hove Albion).
25': Attempt missed. Franco Baldassarra (Kauno Zalgiris) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right following a set piece situation.
31': Attempt missed. Lewis Dunk (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Pascal Groß.
32': Fabien Ourega (Kauno Zalgiris) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
32': Foul by Ibrahim Osman (Brighton and Hove Albion).
34': Foul by Franco Baldassarra (Kauno Zalgiris).
34': Matt O'Riley (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
34': Attempt saved. Jack Hinshelwood (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner by Tomas Svedkauskas (Kauno Zalgiris). Assisted by Pascal Groß with a cross.
34': Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Tomas Svedkauskas.
35': Attempt blocked. Matt O'Riley (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Malick Yalcouyé.
36': Delay in match because of an injury Renan Oliveira (Kauno Zalgiris).
37': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
38': Attempt blocked. Costinha (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Pascal Groß.
39': Attempt missed. Ibrahim Osman (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Lewis Dunk with a cross.
39': Attempt missed. Ibrahim Osman (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Malick Yalcouyé with a headed pass.
40': Attempt blocked. Costinha (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Olivier Boscagli with a cross.
41': Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Kauno Zalgiris 0. Georginio Rutter (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ibrahim Osman.Goal awarded following VAR Review.
41': VAR Decision: Goal Brighton and Hove Albion 1-0 Kauno Zalgiris (Georginio Rutter).
44': Attempt missed. Jack Hinshelwood (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Pascal Groß with a cross.
45'+1': Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time.
45'+2': Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 2, Kauno Zalgiris 0. Jack Hinshelwood (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Georginio Rutter.
45'+3': First Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 2, Kauno Zalgiris 0.
45': Substitution, Kauno Zalgiris. Leon Krekovic replaces Léo Ribeiro.
45': Substitution, Kauno Zalgiris. Rokas Lekiatas replaces Fabien Ourega.
45': Second Half begins Brighton and Hove Albion 2, Kauno Zalgiris 0.
45': Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Luka Vuskovic replaces Lewis Dunk.
45': Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Maxim De Cuyper replaces Olivier Boscagli.
47': Attempt blocked. Malick Yalcouyé (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Pascal Groß.
47': Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Anton Tolordava.
47': Attempt missed. Luka Vuskovic (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the right side of the six yard box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Pascal Groß with a cross following a corner.
48': Foul by Rokas Lekiatas (Kauno Zalgiris).
48': Pascal Groß (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
49': Attempt saved. Jack Hinshelwood (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Tomas Svedkauskas (Kauno Zalgiris). Assisted by Maxim De Cuyper.
49': Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Tomas Svedkauskas.
49': Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Renan Oliveira.
49': Attempt missed. Malick Yalcouyé (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Pascal Groß.
51': Joris Moutachy (Kauno Zalgiris) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
51': Foul by Ibrahim Osman (Brighton and Hove Albion).
53': Attempt missed. Ibrahim Osman (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Maxim De Cuyper.
53': Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 3, Kauno Zalgiris 0. Georginio Rutter (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ibrahim Osman.
57': Substitution, Kauno Zalgiris. Anthony Kalik replaces Franco Baldassarra.
57': Substitution, Kauno Zalgiris. Gabriel Debeljuh replaces Renan Oliveira.
57': Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Yasin Ayari replaces Pascal Groß.
57': Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Promise David replaces Jack Hinshelwood.
58': Attempt blocked. Promise David (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Georginio Rutter with a through ball.
58': Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Anton Tolordava.
59': Anthony Kalik (Kauno Zalgiris) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
59': Foul by Maxim De Cuyper (Brighton and Hove Albion).
60': Delay in match because of an injury Amine Benchaib (Kauno Zalgiris).
61': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
61': Substitution, Kauno Zalgiris. Vykintas Slivka replaces Amine Benchaib because of an injury.
64': Foul by Gabriel Debeljuh (Kauno Zalgiris).
64': Luka Vuskovic (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
65': Anthony Kalik (Kauno Zalgiris) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
65': Foul by Yasin Ayari (Brighton and Hove Albion).
66': Foul by Rokas Lekiatas (Kauno Zalgiris).
66': Malick Yalcouyé (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
67': Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Younes Ibrahim replaces Ibrahim Osman because of an injury.
67': Matt O'Riley (Brighton and Hove Albion) hits the right post with a left footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Maxim De Cuyper following a set piece situation.
67': Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 4, Kauno Zalgiris 0. Matt O'Riley (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Younes Ibrahim with a cross following a set piece situation.
69': Foul by Anthony Kalik (Kauno Zalgiris).
69': Yasin Ayari (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
69': Foul by Leon Krekovic (Kauno Zalgiris).
69': Matt O'Riley (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the right wing.
72': Gabriel Debeljuh (Kauno Zalgiris) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
72': Foul by Michael Svoboda (Brighton and Hove Albion).
76': Delay in match because of an injury Aldayr Hernández (Kauno Zalgiris).
77': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
77': Attempt blocked. Younes Ibrahim (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Costinha with a cross.
77': Attempt missed. Yasin Ayari (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
79': Attempt saved. Costinha (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Tomas Svedkauskas (Kauno Zalgiris). Assisted by Maxim De Cuyper with a cross.
79': Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Vykintas Slivka.
79': Attempt missed. Costinha (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Younes Ibrahim with a cross.
82': Attempt saved. Matt O'Riley (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Tomas Svedkauskas (Kauno Zalgiris). Assisted by Promise David.
82': Attempt missed. Promise David (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Maxim De Cuyper with a cross.
82': Attempt blocked. Yasin Ayari (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Malick Yalcouyé.
82': Attempt missed. Promise David (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Yasin Ayari.
84': Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Nosa Iyobosa Edokpolor.
86': Foul by Gabriel Debeljuh (Kauno Zalgiris).
86': Yasin Ayari (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
86': Attempt missed. Promise David (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Maxim De Cuyper with a cross.
89': Gabriel Debeljuh (Kauno Zalgiris) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89': Foul by Michael Svoboda (Brighton and Hove Albion).
90': Attempt missed. Yasin Ayari (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
90': Attempt saved. Leon Krekovic (Kauno Zalgiris) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Bart Verbruggen (Brighton and Hove Albion). Assisted by Joris Moutachy.
90'+1': Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time.
90'+2': Gabriel Debeljuh (Kauno Zalgiris) wins a free kick on the right wing.
90'+2': Foul by Michael Svoboda (Brighton and Hove Albion).
90'+4': Attempt blocked. Gabriel Debeljuh (Kauno Zalgiris) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Joris Moutachy.
90'+4': Corner, Kauno Zalgiris. Conceded by Luka Vuskovic.
90'+4': Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 4, Kauno Zalgiris 0.
0': Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 4, Kauno Zalgiris 0.

Statistics

ZAL		BHA
8	Fouls	11
1	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
0	Offsides	0
1	Corner Kicks	13
5	Saves	1
22.2	Possession	77.8
4	SHOTS	35
1	ON GOAL	9
0.3	On Target %	0.3
0	Penalty Goals	0
0	Penalty Kicks Taken	0
136	Accurate Passes	632
207	Passes	687
0.7	Pass Completion %	0.9
1	Accurate Crosses	17
3	Crosses	51
0.3	Cross %	0.3
67	Long Balls	29
17	Accurate Long Balls	26
0.3	Long Balls %	0.9
1	Blocked Shots	10
12	Effective Tackles	8
22	Tackles	9
0.5	Tackle %	0.9
8	Interceptions	3
62	Effective Clearances	20
62	Clearances	20

Game Information

Competition: UEFA Conference League

Venue: American Express Stadium
Location: Falmer, England
Attendance: 21,840

Line-Ups

Brighton & Hove Albion (4-3-3)

No.	Name
1	Bart Verbruggen (GK)
30	Michael Svoboda
5	Lewis Dunk
21	Olivier Boscagli
20	Costinha
35	Malick Yalcouyé
8	Jack Hinshelwood
13	Pascal Gross
10	Georginio Rutter
15	Ibrahim Osman
33	Matt O'Riley

Brighton & Hove Albion Substitutes:

Maxim De Cuyper, Younes Ibrahim, Shane Nti, Charalambos Kostoulas, Luka Vuskovic, Promise David, Diego Gómez, Yasin Ayari, Jason Steele, Tom McGill, Ferdi Kadioglu, Chema Andrés.

Kauno Zalgiris (4-1-4-1)

No.	Name
55	Tomas Svedkauskas (GK)
23	Aldayr Hernández
3	Anton Tolordava
32	Franco Baldassarra
37	Nosa Iyobosa Edokpolor
45	Joris Moutachy
8	Yukiyoshi Karashima
7	Amine Benchaib
15	Léo Ribeiro
70	Fabien Ourega
19	Renan Oliveira

Kauno Zalgiris Substitutes:

Gratas Sirgedas, Marko Konatar, Motiejus Burba, Deividas Mikelionis, Lirim Kastrati, Gabriel Debeljuh, Vykintas Slivka, Rokas Lekiatas, Anthony Kalik, Ivan Fiolic, Leon Krekovic.

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