برائٹن اینڈ ہوو البین بمقابلہ ایف کے کاؤنو ژالگیریس

Brighton began their Conference League league phase with a 4-0 win over Kauno Zalgiris at the Amex on Thursday night. Georginio Rutter scored twice, and the first of those only counted after VAR overturned an initial decision against it. Rutter turned in an Ibrahim Osman cross shortly before the break. Jack Hinshelwood made it two in first-half stoppage time, finishing from a Rutter cross. It was his first appearance since the opening weekend of the Premier League season, after an ankle injury. Rutter got his second in the 53rd minute from another Osman delivery. Matt O'Riley headed in the fourth in the 67th, from a cross by debutant Younes Ibrahim. It was O'Riley's first Brighton goal since August 2025, and he had earlier hit the post. The Lithuanian side sat deep and rarely got out of their own half. Brighton had close to 80% of the ball, and keeper Tomas Svedkauskas kept the score down with a late save from O'Riley. The win puts Brighton top of the table and makes it five victories in a row in all competitions. They host Crystal Palace on Sunday, then travel to Jablonec. Kauno Zalgiris are left with no points from their first league-phase match.