Report: Albion have to settle for a draw on return to Europe

Both sides had their chances in a lively encounter but it finished 0-0 in Tromso with the second leg next Thursday at the Amex.

Bruce Talbot

2026-08-20T20:00+01:00

Ibrahim Osman impressed on his Albion debut. 📷James Boardman

Albion will feel they have the advantage going into the second leg of their UEFA Conference League play-off after Thursday’s stalemate in northern Norway.

They had 25 shots against Tromso and six were on target but, as Fabian Hurzeler anticipated, the home side proved a tough nut to crack.

They sat in a low block, often with five defenders, were happy to let Albion have possession and counter when attacks broke down.

The visitors had enough chances to have brought a lead back to Sussex though and while Bart Verbruggen was a spectator for long spells he did make a crucial save early in the second half when Heine Asen Larsen beat the offside trap early and the Dutch No.1 narrowed the angle and managed to deflect the shot over the bar.

And right at the end defender Isak Vadebu wasted a glorious opportunity when he also breached the offside trap but failed to test Verbruggen.

Diego Gomez challenges for the ball during the first half. 📷James Boardman

At the other end Ibrahim Osman, a constant threat on his Brighton debut, Georginio and Yasin Ayari all had opportunities to score but Tromso keeper Jakob Haugaard was in good form.

He might have been a familiar figure for some of the 400 or so travelling fans, having last faced the Seagulls in April 2017 when he was the Wigan keeper on the day Albion clinched promotion to the Premier League.

Albion have come a long way since then and they began their second European campaign on the front foot, the artificial pitch which had been heavily watered helping their slick moves.

Osman worried Tromso from the start. His penalty appeals were waved away by the Latvian referee when he went down in the box after surging past Isak Dahlqvist before Albion created a flurry of chances midway through the first period.

Luka Vuskovic challenges for a header. 📷James Boardman

Captain Pascal Gross fired wide, Rutter drew a fine save from Hagaard with a powerful shot from outside the box and Hagaard then flung himself at full stretch to his right to push away Osman’s spectacular left-foot volley which was heading for the top corner.

Luka Vuskovic was also denied by Haugaard before the break and after Verbruggen’s crucial intervention early in the second half Albion got on top again.

Ayari showed great control and footwork to create space for a shot inside the six-yard box which Haugaard turned away.

Albion’s shot count mounted and Hurzeler freshened things up by throwing on Babis Kostoulas and Amario Cozier-Duberry for his debut.

Ibrahim Osman forced a great save with this first-half volley. 📷James Boardman

The pair nearly combined for a breakthrough 15 minutes from time when the Greek striker met Cozier-Duberry’s right-wing cross but couldn’t keep a free header on target.

Jack Hinshelwood came on and forced another save from Haugaard but Tromso were left ruing their big moment with six minutes to go. Defender Vadebu sprung Albion’s offside trap but scuffed a right-foot shot wide with only Verbruggen to beat.

It was a warning that Albion won’t be able to take anything for granted in the second leg at the Amex to progress.

Albion: Verbruggen, Wieffer, Boscagli, Vuskovic, Kadioglu (Yohanna 88), Malcouye (Cozier-Duberry 67), Gross, Osman (De Cuyper 77), Gomez (Kostoulas 67), Rutter (Hinshelwood 78), Ayari.