UEL: Brighton's hungry cubs sink their fangs in weary Amsterdammer prey

A well-organized, strong, expertly coached Brighton team showed they can hurt even the European football's royalty with a confident display at their Amex Stadium against former European champions Ajax.

Hungry for international recognition, they beat the crisis-hit Dutch club 2-0 thanks to goals from Joao Pedro and Ansu Fati, two youngsters who are yet to show all their potential on the big stage.

Brighton's trademark build-up has been absent for much of the first half, with Kaoru Mitoma again in charge of producing some magic with his dribbling skills. But they found the right touch a couple of minutes before the break. Captain Lewis Dunk started the move, feeding the ball to Mitoma on the left. The Japanese cut inside and unleashed a strong shot, which was saved by Diant Ramaj. Joao Pedro was in the right spot to tuck the ball into the net and make it 1-0.

It was a perfect time to score as far as Brighton were concerned. On the other hand, Ajax are going through one of the worst periods in their history. Currently just above the relegation zone in their national championship, the Amsterdammers found the trip to England as a welcome distraction from their domestic woes.

Barcelona's castaway Ansu Fati doubled the lead for the English club with a cool finish into the far corner shortly after the restart. Ajax's caretaker manager Hedwiges Maduro watched on with a disappointed look on his face as the realization sank in: Europe wouldn't offer any respite.

Elsewhere in the UEL, Roma scored two early goals through Edoardo Bove and Romelu Lukaku to settle their contest against Czech giants Slavia Prague. Stadio Olimpico witnessed a professional performance from the Gialorossi despite their boss Jose Mourinho being forced to watch on from the stands through suspension.

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE- GROUP STAGE

Thursday

Olympiakos - West Ham 2-1 (2-0)

/Fortounis 33, Ogbona 45+1 og - Paqueta 87/

TSC Backa Topola - Freiburg 1-3 (1-0)

/Petrovic 13 - Grifo 49 pen, 59, 74/

Olympique Marseille - AEK 3-1 (1-0)

/Vitinha 27, Harit 60 pen, Veretout 69 pen - Pineda 53/

Aris Limmasol - Betis 0-1 (0-0)

/DIao 75/

Sparta Praha - Rangers 0-0

Rakow - Sporting 1-1 (0-1)

/Piasecki 79 - Coates 14/

Sturm - Atalanta 2-2 (1-2)

/Prass 13, Horvat 80 pen - Muriel 34, 45+7/

Molde - Hacken 5-1 (3-1)

/Gulbransen 6, Eikrem 27, 55, Breivik 30, Bjornbak 90+3 - Sonko 21/

Brighton - Ajax 2-0 (1-0)

/Joao Pedro 42, Fati 53/

Liverpool - Toulouse 5-1 (3-1)

/Jota 9, Endo 30, Nunez 34, Gravenberch 65, Salah 90+3 - Dallinga 16/

St.Gilloise - LASK 2-1 (0-1)

/Puertas 84 pen, Burgess 90+5 - Usor 24/

Panathinaikos - Rennes 1-2 (0-1)

/Ioannidis 61 - Gouiri 8, Kalimuendo 50/

Roma - Slavia Praha 2-0 (2-0)

/Bove 1, Lukaku 17/

Sheriff Tiraspol - Servette 1-1 (0-1)

/Ankeye 80 - Crivelli 41/

Leverkusen - Qarabag 5-1 (3-1)

/Wirtz 5, Grimaldo 29, 55, Boniface 35, Tapsoba 58 - Bayramov 16 pen/