Brighton 4-0 Tromso: De Cuyper & Kostoulas lead Seagulls to UCL group stage (full match highlights)

Brighton & Hove Albion cruised into the Champions League group stage with a dominant 4-0 victory over Tromso at the American Express Stadium on August 27, 2026, securing a 4-0 aggregate win after a goalless first leg that had left everything to play for. The Seagulls were in complete control from the very first whistle, dictating the tempo and suffocating their Norwegian opponents with relentless pressing and quick transitions. Haralampos Kostoulas opened the scoring in the 22nd minute after a precise pass from Maxime De Cuyper, the young Greek striker showing composure beyond his years as he slotted the ball into the far corner past the stranded Tromso goalkeeper. De Cuyper then turned goalscorer himself just eleven minutes later, doubling the lead with a composed finish that left the visitors shell-shocked and the home crowd in raptures. The third goal arrived in the 38th minute when Mats Wieffer, who had been pulling the strings in midfield all night, unleashed a powerful strike from outside the box that flew into the top-left corner after a clever assist from Kostoulas. The second half was a controlled affair, with Brighton managing the game intelligently and rarely allowing Tromso to venture into their half. The final nail in the coffin came in the 86th minute when Olivier Boscagli rose highest to head home from a corner kick, the Dutch defender's effort sparking wild celebrations among the home supporters. The only booking of the match went to Alexander Warneryd in the 44th minute for a reckless challenge on a Brighton midfielder. The statistics paint a picture of complete dominance: Brighton enjoyed 68% possession, registered 22 shots to Tromso's 4, and completed 87% of their passes against the visitors' 62%. Remarkably, the Norwegian side failed to register a single shot on target throughout the entire match, a testament to Brighton's defensive solidity and tactical discipline. The Seagulls will now eagerly await the group stage draw, where they could be pitted against some of Europe's biggest names. For Tromso, their European adventure ends here, but they can hold their heads high after reaching the Champions League playoff round, a significant achievement for Norwegian football and a sign of the club's growing stature on the continental stage.