Brighton 3-0 AS Roma - Brighton dominate as they return to the AMEX for the first time this season

Brighton Breeze Past a Lacklustre Roma

Dominant. Free flowing. HMS Piss the League? Ok maybe I’m getting a little bit ahead of myself there but I for one am incredibly pleased with what I saw on Saturday as Brighton convincedly beat Roma 3-0 in the first of two friendlies at the AMEX in the space of a week.

Georginio Rutter and Yasin Ayari got on the scoresheet for the Seagulls with the Swede scoring a brace. Debuts were thrown to new signings Luka Vuskovic, Zadok Yohanna and Costinha as well as loan returnees given minutes; such as, Ibrahim Osman and Malick Yalcouye.

Brighton 3-0 Roma as it Happened

As the game got underway in the Sussex sunshine it developed into a fairly even start. Both sides attacking with intent, Roma almost capitalising on a mistake at the back as well as Donyell Malen firing just wide of the mark as he almost gave Roma the lead. Brighton had their set of chances too with Hinshelwood firing straight down the middle of the goal, and Rutter had a shot well saved by the Serbian, Mile Svilar.

The opener, when it came, was pure class from Georginio on the 29th minute mark. Rutter cutting in from the right hand side as he found himself just outside the Roma box, , who took a touch to set himself and bent the perfect shot passed a diving Svilar and into the top left corner. 1-0 Brighton.

Some finish from Georgi... 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/y5kNQLgPDZ

— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) August 8, 2026

It would take 11 minutes for the Albion to extend their lead to two. Minteh being played in behind on the counter attack as he tussled with Wesley the whole way, from inside his own half, to the edge of the Roma box. He held the ball up well and laid it off to Diego Gomez who tried his best to pick of Georginio, unfortunately for him the pass was cut off, but fortunately for Ayari, who was running onto the loose ball to drill it into the back of the net. 2-0 Brighton.

Halftime Score - Brighton 2-0 Roma

Ayari didn't have to wait long to complete his brace. Four minutes into the second half, he struck again to take Brighton into an unassailable lead. Rutter picking out Ayari in the box after being played in along the byline by Minteh. Ayari made no mistake as he calmy rifled it past a helpless Svilar from close range. 3-0 Brighton.

These two… 🤩🔥 pic.twitter.com/0FD9oEKfOh

— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) August 8, 2026

When all seemed to be going too well for the Seagulls something had to go wrong. After a coming together between Minteh and Bryan Cristante, the Gambian came out worse and was down for a number of minutes. He eventually got back up and looked to try and carry on, but just seconds after re-entering the field of play he collapsed back down, covering his face in his shirt. Minteh hobbled off with the help of the medical staff as Brighton fans nervously await the scan results.

Despite the game growing older, Brighton’s intensity never dropped. Substitution cameos from specifically Zadok Yohanna and Ibrahim Osman lit up the two wings with their technical dribbling and burst of pace.

Chances came and went for the Seagulls, less so for Roma. And eventually the referee blew the full time whistle to wrap up what was a very promising performance from Brighton and one fans and players alike can take into the season with confidence.

Fulltime Score – Brighton 3-0 Roma

Brighton Player Ratings

• Bart Verbruggen – 6 – Should have brought a sleeping bag with him

• Mats Wieffer – 6 – Did his job

• Luka Vuskovic – 7 – Rolls Royce

• Olivier Boscagli – 8 – Could and should get serious minutes this season

• Ferdi Kadioglu – 6 – As consistent as ever

• Pascal Gross – 7 – Engine of this team

• Yasin Ayari – 9 – Sign the contract big boy

• Diego Gomez – 7 – Consistently inconsistent

• Jack Hinshelwood – 6 – Didn’t do much

• Yankuba Minteh – 7 – Please be ok

• Georginio Rutter – 9 – New striker? Don’t worry we’ve got Georgi

Substitutes

• Dunk – 6 – Did his job

• Costinha – 6 – I sense cult hero potential

• Maxim De Cuper – 6 – Did his job

• Charalampos Kostoulas – 6 – Huge season ahead

• Zadok Yohanna – 6 – Very raw but the talent is very clear to see

• Ibrahim Osman – 7 – Invest your stocks ahead of this season

• Malick Yalcouye – 6 – Solid

• Eiran Cashin - N/A - Not enough playing time

• Jesse Middleton - N/A - Not enough playing time

• Amario Cozier-Duberry - N/A - Not enough playing time

Brighton vs Roma Man of the Match

One new message from Yasin! 📲 pic.twitter.com/oa4MLIlBVS

— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) August 8, 2026

It could so easily of been Georginio but wow was this man on another planet on Saturday. If 71% of earth is covered by water, the other 29% is covered by Yasin Ayari. He took the game by storm, whether it was helping out in defence and doing some of the dirty work or scoring twice at the other end, it didn’t matter, he was absolutely on it. If that’s the Yasin Ayari to come in this season, myself and all Brighton fans are in for an absolute treat. But I ask just one thing, SIGN THE CONTRACT.