“Seagulls Soar in Japan: Brighton Secures 4-2 Victory Against Tokyo Verdy”
Brighton and Hove Albion concluded their pre-season tour of Japan with a 4-2 victory over Tokyo Verdy in the scorching heat of the capital.
Goals from Jan Paul van Hecke and Yankuba Minteh set the Seagulls on the path to victory at the Japan National Stadium, despite a setback from a counter-attacking goal by Verdy’s Yudai Kimura.
In the second half, Simon Adingra and Jeremy Sarmiento added to Brighton’s tally with well-executed goals, while Naoki Hayashi scored a header for Verdy, showcasing Albion’s depth.
Brighton displayed high energy in their second public pre-season match under Fabian Hürzeler, with several players standing out. New signing Malick Yalcouyé showed vigor from midfield, and Minteh and Kaoru Mitoma excelled on the wings.
The match, played in 31-degree Celsius heat in Tokyo, provided valuable insights for the Seagulls as they identified potential regulars for the upcoming season.
Brighton fielded a strong starting XI, featuring experienced players like Jason Steele, Joël Veltman, and Danny Welbeck, signaling their intent. Andrew Moran was the only player not immediately part of Hürzeler’s first-team plans.
After a slow start, Brighton kicked into gear, with Yalcouyé’s shot earning a corner and Valentín Barco delivering a perfect cross for van Hecke to score on the rebound. This goal came amid Brighton’s ongoing review of set-pieces following coach Nick Stanley’s departure to Norwich City.
Verdy quickly responded, leveling the score just four minutes later with a well-crafted goal. Breaking free on the left after a Brighton attack, Itsuki Someno set up Kimura, who powerfully finished past Steele from close range.
After that, Brighton controlled possession and created several chances, with Yalcouyé, Ibrahim Osman, and Minteh all having shots blocked from open play, while Welbeck was also unlucky not to score from a corner.
The Seagulls demonstrated impressive versatility, with Minteh and Mitoma switching to the right wing, Yalcouyé roaming freely in midfield, and Barco making dynamic runs down the left flank.
Their persistent attacking paid off in the 44th minute when Minteh was released in the right half-space. After an uncertain touch with his right foot, he used his stronger left foot to drive closer to the Verdy goal before curling a shot into the bottom left corner, making it 2-1 at halftime.
Continuing their strategy from the friendly against Kashima Antlers, Brighton made wholesale changes in the second half to give more players minutes, with Steele being the only one to remain on the field. Adam Webster, Adingra, Facundo Buonanotte, and Abdallah Sima quickly made an impact.
Three minutes into the half, Buonanotte turned in space on the right and delivered a perfectly weighted cross to Adingra, who, despite a close offside call, scored at the far post.
Verdy, making fewer changes, responded strongly. In the 54th minute, Hayashi punished poor marking from a free-kick with a header that beat Yasin Ayari’s attempted clearance.
The score remained 3-2 for a while as both teams struggled, with Brighton’s new attacking lineup of Sima, Adingra, Buonanotte, and Amario Cozier-Duberry not as effective. However, Ayari in midfield and Odel Offiah on the right showed some impressive moments, receiving plenty of the ball as Verdy’s defense improved.
In the 77th minute, a lapse in Verdy’s concentration allowed Brighton to score a fourth and decisive goal. Buonanotte burst forward from midfield and laid off to Jeremy Sarmiento, who scored his second goal of pre-season with a well-placed shot into the bottom left corner from 18 yards.
Ten minutes later, Fuki Yamada had a goal disallowed for offside, while Brighton also gave minutes to goalkeeper Killian Cahill and striker Mark O’Mahony in the closing stages.
Both teams maintained high intensity until the final whistle, pushing for more goals, but the score remained 4-2.