Brighton 1-0 Marseille: Joao Pedro hits late winner as Roberto De Zerbi’s side qualify for Europa League last 16

Joao Pedro exquisitely finished a fine team move in the dying moments as Brighton beat Marseille and went through to the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League as winners of Group B.

Hungry for the win they needed, Brighton began the match on the front foot. The first half at the Amex saw Brighton penetrate the Marseille midfield, proactively piecing together stylish passing moves, and dominating possession.

The home side nevertheless struggled to create any clear-cut chances, and their six shots, three on target, did not pose any real threat to the away goal.

It was in fact Marseille who came closest in the first 45. Jonathan Clauss’ shot from distance picked up a wicked deflection from Pascal Gross, to send it looping over Brighton keeper Jason Steele. Fortunately for the home fans, who held their breath, the ball came down onto the bar before bouncing down where it could be cleared to safety.

In the second Marseille again hit the woodwork, as Amine Harit poked a close-range shot past Brighton keeper Jason Steele, which hit the foot of the left post and almost deflected back into the goal.

Brighton continued to press but were running out of options and seemed to be playing a pass too many each time in the final third.

But then Gross played a perfectly weighted ball to meet an immaculately timed run by Joao Pedro, who smashed past the Marseille goalkeeper, causing the home fans to erupt.

Marseille couldn’t respond and will head to the play-offs as their possible route to the last 16.

It was an entirely different set of Seagulls – psychologically at least – that ended the first part of their campaign than the one that started it. In October, Brighton would have perhaps been elated to get a home point against Marseille and finish second in their UEFA Europa League group. In December, after doing the double over Dutch giants Ajax, they believed they belonged and were not going to settle for anything less.

That self-belief applied to the manner in which Roberto De Zerbi asked his team to play. Even as Marseille stifled and stymied the creativity of Pascal Gross, Kaoro Mitoma, Joao Pedro and the rest, they kept their heads and continued plugging away. No major tactical changes were made in the closing minutes, even as some personnel gave way. Crucially those first three, who looked good throughout but lacked cutting edge, stayed on the pitch before finally finding a way through, as finally it clicked.

A sympathy selection? Perhaps. But the Japanese international was involved in everything Brighton did bar the goal, and along with Simon Adingra offered them so much width that stretched Marseille from minute one, and made the space for Pedro and Gross to take advantage. Mitoma may not have scored for some 15 games now, and needs to, but he is an inspiration, and as vital to their success as any of the 11.

BRIGHTON: Steele 6; Igor Julio, Dunk 7, Joao Pedro 8; Gilmour 7; Gross 8, Mitoma 8; Adingra 7, Van Hecke 8, Bunonanotte 6, Hinshelwood 6. Subs: Milner 6, Lallana 5, Baleba 5, Veltman 6, Ferguson 7

MARSEILLE: Lopez 5; Lodi 6, Balerdi 6, Meite 7, Mbemba 7, Clauss 7, Veretout 6, Ounahi 6, Harit 6, Vitinha 5, Aubameyang 4. Subs: Murillo 6, Kondogbia 5, Sarr 5, Ndiaye 5

88′ – Goal! Brighton 1-0 Marseille (Joao Pedro) The breakthrough! What a team goal that was. LIttle passes through the middle and then Pascal Gross threaded it through to Joao Pedro in the box, who finally got the finish right. The Amex erupts!

• Brighton have now only failed to score in one of their last 32 matches in all competitions.
• Brighton kept four consecutive clean sheets in the Europa League to reach the last 16.
• Marseille haven’t beaten English competition since December 2010.
• Joao Pedro’s six Europa League goals is more than any other player in any European competition this season.