Match report as Brighton come back from two goals down at half-time to take a point in Marseille; Seagulls trailed 2-0 inside 20 minutes through Chancel Mbemba and Jordan Veretout goals but Pascal Gross and Joao Pedro from penalty spot secure draw
Friday 6 October 2023 06:12, UK
Brighton gave themselves a Europa League lifeline as Joao Pedro's late penalty completed a comeback from two goals down away to Marseille and helped Roberto De Zerbi's side avoid a second straight European defeat.
Pedro slotted home in the 88th minute after Tariq Lamptey was tripped inside the box, earning the visitors what had looked an unlikely point when Marseille duo Chancel Mbemba (19) and Jordan Veretout (20) struck two goals within 88 seconds each other in the first half.
At that stage, a badly out-of-sorts Brighton looked like they would be lucky to avoid the kind of thrashing Aston Villa meted out to them on Saturday. Marseille threw everything at them, whilst the visitors gave only space and encouragement.
Still they held on, figured out how to contain Gennaro Gattuso's side, and hit back. Pascal Gross made it 2-1 after 56 minutes, and from there their pressure grew until Pedro's dramatic intervention at the death.
In the other game in Europa League Group B, Ajax drew 1-1 at AEK Athens.
Brighton appeared stagestruck during the first half inside a stadium that rocked with the noise of a vociferous home support.
De Zerbi admitted the atmosphere had been a factor in knocking his players out of their usual rhythm that has seen them win five of their first seven Premier League games this season.
"I know we are not a big team yet," he said. "We are a small club. We reached the European competition playing very well, showing the incredible qualities of the players, but it's possible we suffered too much from the atmosphere. (It was) the first game (away) in Europe for Brighton, the players and the fans.
"I'm not a big coach, I'm not used to playing in this competition. We have to adapt, we have to get used to playing in this competition from this moment.
"We can lose the game but we can't lose our DNA, our spirit, our bravery and passion. This season will be important to progress, to adapt to playing in different competitions, playing three games every week.
"Today we played not more than 30 per cent of our potential."
Marseille started with high energy, roared on by the support of a noisy Stade Velodrome. Amine Harit tested the reflexes of Jason Steele early, lifting a free-kick over the wall and requiring the Brighton goalkeeper to leap and flick it over the bar.
Gattuso's side had conceded 10 goals in their last three games and were winless in five, but this was a confident opening that defied their lowly Ligue 1 position of 12th.
Brighton by contrast were lethargic off the ball and careless when on it, giving away possession as they sought to play out through midfield, inviting pressure onto themselves.
After 19 minutes, that pressure yielded a goal. Kaoru Mitoma slipped as he sought to close the ball down, allowing France international Jonathan Clauss space to charge down the right flank and, after linking up with Iliman Ndiaye, he fired in low cross which the unmarked Mbemba - the former Newcastle defender - guided home first-time past Steele from near the penalty spot.
There was barely time for De Zerbi to take stock before it was 2-0, and it was Brighton captain Lewis Dunk on his European debut whose mistake set things in motion, missing his kick and losing the ball inside his own half, allowing Harit time to size up a cross.
With Dunk out of position Joel Veltman came across to clear but was fractionally too slow to prevent Veretout beating him to it and striking it beyond Steele, who appeared to let the ball bounce through his hands. De Zerbi's side have conceded five goals in their first two major European matches, the most by an English side in their first two games since Aston Villa in October 1975 (5).
Then came what appeared to be Brighton's road back. The referee was called to the pitchside monitor to adjudicate on a possible Marseille handball inside their box and initially said penalty. After a moment of confusion, VAR ruled there had been an earlier foul, and Brighton's lifeline was whipped away.
With the home support buoyed into a deafening chorus, Marseille sought the third goal to bury Brighton and Steele was called on again to turn over a long-range Harit effort.
Pau Lopez in the hosts' goal twice denied Brighton late in the half, first flinging himself to keep out Ansu Fati's header then blocking with his feet after Danny Welbeck raced clear from Veltman's through-ball.
The second half began with renewed Marseille pressure and so it was against the run of play that Gross hauled Brighton back into it. Lamptey carried the ball almost to the byline and tucked it back for Mitoma, who looked up to see Gross arriving in the box and teed him up to make it 2-1.
It had a transformative effect and suddenly Brighton had found their rhythm. The wayward passing of the first half became accurate and direct, and now it was Marseille conceding possession cheaply.
They still had a chance to restore a two-goal lead when substitute Vitinha looked to have got the better of Dunk after a hoofed ball up from Lopez, but the captain recovered brilliantly to block.
Mitoma struck a left-footed effort too close to Lopez allowing the goalkeeper to parry as Brighton's intensified their threat.
Then, late drama and a chance for De Zerbi's side to salvage their European campaign.
Marseille were spooked and became more concerned with eating away at the clock, so when Clauss upended Lamptey in the box, it was no less than Brighton deserved.
Pedro's penalty required incredible nerve following a lengthy delay, lots of gamesmanship from the Marseille players and deafening whistles inside the stadium.
"It's an atmosphere that gives you goosebumps," said Gattuso on the eve of the contest. A first-ever point in Europe, the Seagulls had their spine-tingling moment they will forever cherish.
Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi:
"I want to be honest more than other days, other games. I think we are not playing well, it's a very tough period for us in this moment. It's difficult to show our quality like last season, like a month ago.
"It's a period where we have to work, but after that in football it's important the quality of the play and the players, but it's important playing with heart, passion and the right behaviour.
"I'm really proud of the performance today, of the players. After the defeat 6-1 at Villa Park and the second goal to close the first half at 2-0, this reaction is incredible. For it I am very happy."
Marseille boss Gennaro Gattuso:
"The pressure we applied in the first 65 minutes was (good). Then we started to press in a different way, not the best way. We should have paid more attention to them.
"With Brighton, if you don't press well and do the good things, they will punish you. I think the players gave 65 minutes where they were able to press high but it was still not enough."
Sky Sports' Ben Grounds:
Brighton are learning on the job in Europe. They are learning to manage the sort of atmosphere that awaited them at one of the continent's biggest bear pits, with a history of hostility.
Roberto De Zerbi's side didn't go under when they trailed 2-0 inside 20 minutes. They showed real character to ignite their Europa League campaign.
The Italian will certainly be the happier of the two managers. Gattuso, the newly appointed Marseille head coach who is synonymous with European competitions, grimaced as he watched two points slip through his fingers. In truth, a draw was just about a fair result.
The Velodrome, this famous cauldron of noise and flares, was partially closed when Tottenham played here last November after crowd trouble between the home side and Eintracht Frankfurt supporters.
But the 3,000 Brighton fans who had their own travel issues upon arrival at Marseille airport will return home encouraged that their European adventure can be extended into the new year.
Lamptey recovered, like Dunk, from the early defensive inquest to have a fine game at left-back in the absence of Pervis Estupinan. The Ecuadorian is set to be out for at least a month, and with big tests ahead against Liverpool and Manchester City, De Zerbi will feel on this evidence that his replacement can fill the void.
Brighton host Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 2pm. They return to Europa League action at the Amex Stadium on October 26 when Ajax are the visitors; kick-off 8pm.
Meanwhile, Marseille host Le Havre in Ligue 1 on Sunday at 12pm. They are at home to AEK Athens in their next Europa League game on October 26; kick-off 5.45pm.
