Brighton open Conference League with 4-0 win

Brighton opened its Conference League campaign with a 4-0 victory over Kauno Zalgiris on Thursday, as Georginio Rutter scored twice and assisted another goal in a dominant performance at the Amex Stadium. Rutter put Brighton ahead late in the first half, finishing Ibrahim Osman’s cutback. The goal was initially ruled out because the ball appeared to have crossed the line before Osman’s pass, but a video assistant referee review determined it had remained in play and the goal was awarded. Rutter then set up Jack Hinshelwood in first-half stoppage time to double the lead. After the break, Osman squared the ball for Rutter to score his second, and Matt O’Riley headed in Brighton’s fourth from a cross by debutant Younes Ibrahim. The result gave Brighton a winning start to their first Conference League campaign. The club reached the last 16 of the Europa League in 2023-24, its only previous European campaign, and entered Thursday’s match after a strong opening to the season. Brighton had won four of their first six Premier League games, according to match coverage published ahead of the team’s next fixture. Rutter was making his first start since the opening day of the campaign...