Will Brighton end their two-leg tie troubles against Tromso? | OneFootball

Brighton hope to end their two-legged troubles when Tromso visit the Amex, the Conference League play-off finely balanced after a 0-0 first leg inside the Arctic Circle. As reported by WeAreBrighton.com, Albion’s record in such ties offers little comfort.

That opener could have gone either way, with Bart Verbruggen and Jakob Haugaard busy to preserve clean sheets. Tromso enjoyed home advantages, from the 3G pitch to the location. Fabian Hurzeler skipped pre-match training on plastic and benched Lewis Dunk, Jack Hinshelwood and Maxim De Cuyper.

Tromso are mid-season, so they carried extra sharpness against an Albion whose pre-season offered limited top-level tune-up. Back home on grass and fresh from a 4-0 win over Aston Villa, the return should feel different. Coming back level may help, yet everything hinges on the next 90 minutes, and possibly 120.

Caution is rooted in history. A 0-0 at Selhurst Park in 2012-13 preceded a 2-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace, with Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday inflicting later semi-final exits, and Roma ending Albion’s 2023-24 European run. Luton advanced on penalties in 2008-09, the last success was Swindon in 2004, salvaged by Adam Virgo before a shootout and followed by victory over Bristol City.

The stakes are clear, slip-ups would undercut last season’s eighth-place finish and a real shot at long-awaited silverware. If Brighton reach the groups, they would be among the favourites. Hurzeler should go strong, with Georginio Rutter a doubt, Charalampos Kostoulas the alternative, Promise David ineligible, and Ferdi Kadioglu back in training with workload managed.

Tromso rested their entire first-choice XI in the domestic cup and still beat third-tier Ulfstind 5-0, four before the break. A deep block surely awaits. Can Albion prise them open, and how often? For context, Palace edged Fredrikstad 1-0 on aggregate after a 0-0 away leg. A 1-0 win would do nicely.

Source: WeAreBrighton.com

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