Brighton defeats Ajax again to rise atop Europa League group

That's the game! Brighton has goals from Ansu Fati and Simon Idingra that lock up all three points for the Seagulls at Johan Cruyff Arena. It is back-to-back defeats for Ajax, which now has a larger gap with the teams in its group.

As things stand, Brighton rises to the top of the group. AEK Athens and Marseille are playing later on Thursday. If Marseille wins, it usurps Brighton for the group lead.

As Brighton secures a corner in the second minute of stoppage time, supporters at Johan Cruyff Arena decide they have seen enough, and they stream out of the stadium while Brighton supporters rage on with songs from their corner.

Brighton is doing all it can to slow the game down and prevent Ajax from re-entering this game in the dying stages. For example, Evan Ferguson draws a foul, but he stays down on the pitch for an extended period of time.

Ajax becoming frustrated with its current position.

Former Brighton player Chuba Akpom is the latest to have a great scoring chance for Ajax. The 28-year-old creates the space around the penalty box. Unfortunately for Ajax, his shot is right at Verbruggen in goal. The goalkeeper punches the ball away and Brighton avoids the threat.

Ajax is inching closer now.

A brilliant Ajax move through the midfield allows Carlos Forbs to have a shot saved by the Brighton goalkeeper. Forbs may have been put off by a backtracking Joao Pedro on defense.

Forbs and Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen collided with big force, and the goalkeeper needs a minute to gather his bearings. Brighton retains its lead, 2-0.

For the second time this game, Roberto de Zerbi has to use one of his substitutions because a player is unable to continue. This time, it is Pervis Estupinan, who only came on 12 minutes ago.

Estupinan makes way for Carlos Baleba. Brighton will have no more substitutions tonight.

How did the ball NOT go in?! Ajax not only hits a post, but the Dutch side has a chance to bundle the ball in on the line. Brobbey hits BOTH posts on a shot. After the ball squirms along the line, Brighton clears the ball out for a corner.

That may be a moment that sums up the entire night for Ajax. But, that is the club's best chance of the game by far!

Brighton's speed on the wings is taking advantage of Ajax pressing forward. Kaoru Mitoma beats one defender and finds himself with a real scoring opportunity inside the Ajax box. However, he cannot keep his shot down. It rises over the Ajax net for a goal kick.

Brighton still leads, 2-0.

After Brighton made a pair of substitutions, Ajax had two attempts that looked promising. Halftime substitute Chuba Akpom has had a say in both, as he blazes a ball into a dangerous area that is redirected for a goal kick.

Ajax goalkeeper Diant Ramaj gives the ball straight to Kaoru Mitoma. The Japanese tries to play in Joao Pedro with the Ajax defense exposed. Desperate Ajax defenders do enough to backtrack and putoff Pedro, whose shot trickles wide.

Ajax is flirting with fire here, and it risks going down by three goals.

After a single change at halftime, Ajax manager John van't Schip makes a double change just over 10 minutes into the second half. Borna Sosa replaces Anton Gaaei in defense. He also makes an attacking change as Kristian Hlynsson makes way for Carlos Forbs.

Brighton and Hove Albion doubles its advantage! A phenomenal play from Brighton leads to a goal from Simon Adingra. The provider on the first goal turns into the finisher with a poised and powerful finish into the top left corner. Ansu Fati, the scorer of the first goal, turned into provider here.

2-0, Brighton!

The second half is rolling at Johan Cruyff Arena. Ajax will feel like it needs to come back and win this game to have a chance of staying alive in the Europa League. At the very least, a draw would take points away from Brighton which in the live table is leading the group.

The visitors take the lead into the halftime break, and it is hard to say it is not a deserved advantage. Ajax has looked quick on the attack, but there is no end product from the Dutch side.

Ajax has held more of the ball, but Brighton is doing more with their opportunities.

Again, it is Adingra who creates a chance for Brighton. Slick footwork down the right-hand side leads to a crossing attempt that Ajax defenders shepherd out for a corner. Brighton failed to muster a chance on two ensuing corner attempts.

It is Brighton who has had the controlling share of the ball of late. However, for much of that time, it did not lead to a strong chance.

That changed as stoppage time started. Adingra was through on goal, and he forced a save out of the Ajax goalkeeper. On the ensuing corner, Joao Pedro whiffed on a wild overhead-kick attempt.

Brighton is looking dangerous on its moves forward. This time, Joao Pedro creates a shooting opportunity. However, his left-footed attempt continues to rise above the post, and the ball sails away for a goal kick.

Again, Ajax wants a penalty. However, there are much fewer claims this time. Then, the center referee brandishes the first yellow card of the game to Joao Pedro for a high arm that hit an Ajax midfielder.

Ajax puts together a strong move forward. After failing to muster a real scoring chance, the ball deflects into the arm of Pascal Gross. However, the referee said the arm was down in a natural position at Gross' side.

VAR did not step in to pause the game, so the video officials saw no issue with the deflection, either.

After a couple of nervy moments from both teams, the game has settled down. Ajax has retained more of the ball, and Brighton remains somewhat shaky at the back.

The English side has just one clean sheet across all competitions this season. That is what Ajax is hoping to continue in this game.

Ajax showed that Brighton can take advantage of one defensive miscue to score a goal. Just a few minutes later, Brighton is careless at the back, and that allows Ajax a chance. However, the Dutch side does not get a shot off, and Brighton gratefully clears the ball away.

Ansu Fati has done it again! The Spanish talent on loan from Barcelona scored in the reverse fixture in England, and now he has a goal in the Netherlands. Careless play at the back from Ajax allowed Simon Adingra to steal the ball. He quickly passed to Fati who beat one Ajax defender and fired a low shot to beat Diant Ramaj.

1-0 Brighton.

There are claims in the Brighton penalty area that Kaoru Mitoma used a hand to play the ball. After a quick VAR check, the referee waves play on. The ball did not make contact with Mitoma's arm, it simply hit his chest and torso.

James Milner cannot continue. A disappointed Milner shakes his head as he comes off. Billy Gilmour will replace Milner, which moves a member of the Brighton midfield into Milner's left-back role.

Brighton may already have a worry just five minutes into the game. 37-year-old James Milner is down and clutching at his legs. While he is not grimacing in pain, the replays showed he may have overextended his leg and put an early strain on his hamstring during the Bergwijn shot just a minute earlier.

For now, Milner will return to the game in his defensive role.

Ajax is showing much more intent than they did a few weeks ago in England. As Brighton possesses the ball in its own half, it is Ajax to fire the first attempt on goal. Steven Bergwijn takes a long-range effort that Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen comfortably claims.

We are underway in matchday four of the Europa League. The away side Brighton starts on the front foot with some early possession in the Ajax half. That is classic Roberto de Zerbi style, as he always has his team on the front foot.

Ajax supporters are riding the success of two recent wins to create a loud atmosphere in the Johan Cruyff Arena. "A new head coach and a new lease on life," as the commentator describes Ajax.

Can Brighton spoil the atmosphere and energy in Amsterdam?

The fourth matchday is often a crucial one. Teams can face elimination from the competition, or they can secure their spot in the knockout stage. For example, Liverpool can lock up a place in the last 16 with a win.

The Reds are also the focus of one of the major storylines on the day. Luis Diaz is starting for Liverpool today. Earlier, Diaz's father regained his freedom after over a week of captivity in his native Colombia.

Brighton and Ajax unveiled their starting lineups an hour before kickoff from Johan Cruyff Arena. Here is how the teams will show up to start the contest:

Ajax:

• GK: Diant Ramaj
• RB: Devyne Rensch
• CB: Josip Sutalo
• CB: Jorrel Hato
• LB: Anton Gaaei
• CDM: Kenneth Taylor
• CM: Silviano Vos
• CM: Steven Berghuis
• RW: Kristian Hynsson
• ST: Brian Brobbey
• LW: Steven Bergwijn

Brighton and Hove Albion:

• GK: Bart Verbruggen
• RB: James Milner
• CB: Lewis Dunk
• CB: Jan Paul van Hecke
• LB: Joel Veltman
• CDM: Mahmoud Dahoud
• CM: Simon Adingra
• CM: Pascal Groß
• RW: Ansu Fati
• ST: Joao Pedro
• LW: Kaoru Mitoma

It has not been the smoothest sailing for Ajax and Brighton in the current edition of the Europa League. As things enter matchday four, both would exit the Europa League play after the group stage. Brighton, in third, would fall to the Europa Conference League.

1st: Marseille (5 points)
2nd: AEK Athens (4 points)
3rd: Brighton and Hove Albion (4 points)
4th: Ajax (2 points)

In a pivotal Europa League clash, four-time UEFA Champions League winner Ajax is desperate for a result against Brighton. The Seagulls picked up their first European win in club history against Ajax last time out in the Europa League.

Can either side pick up a much-needed result to get into the top half of their group?