Sports

Brighton Beat 10‑Man Brentford to Secure Second Place

By John Brewin

Brighton secured a 2–0 victory over Brentford at the Amex Stadium, moving the club to second place in the Premier League. The match was played under a low winter sun, with Brighton’s players maintaining possession for over 75% of the game. Diego Gómez opened the scoring with a left‑foot strike that bypassed goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher. A second goal came from Pascal Gross, who converted a penalty after a foul on Luka Vuskovic. Brentford were reduced to ten men when Igor Thiago received a red card for violent conduct, a decision confirmed by the video assistant referee. The referee, Michael Oliver, issued a yellow card for a tackle by Chema Andrés, which was later upgraded to a red by the assistant. Brentford’s manager, Keith Andrews, expressed frustration over the disciplinary decisions and the impact on his team’s performance. Brighton’s manager, Fabian Hürzeler, praised the team’s discipline and emphasized the importance of maintaining focus as they pursue European qualification. The win places Brighton firmly in the top two of the league table, positioning them for a potential title challenge in the 2026 season.