Brighton have booked their place in the European club competition for the first time in their 122-year history.
The Seagulls defeated Southampton 3-1 in the 37th round of the 2022-2023 English Premier League (EPL) season at the Amex Stadium in Falmouth, England, on Sunday (Feb. 22). With 61 points, Brighton has effectively secured sixth place. Seventh-place Aston Villa (58 points) is within reach, but the goal difference is so large that it will take a miracle.
Sixth place earns the club a ticket to the Europa League. It will be the first time Brighton, who were founded in 1901, have played in a European club competition.
Against Southampton, 18-year-old rookie Evan Ferguson exploded for two goals. But the star of the show was Japan’s Kaoru Mitoma.
On March 23, the BBC released its best 11 from the 37th round of the EPL. There was no Ferguson in the Team of the Week. Mitoma was the only Brighton player to make the list. He assisted on Ferguson’s second goal.
Garth Crooks, the soccer expert who selects the Team of the Week, said: “Mitoma has had a great season. I don’t know why he wasn’t on the scoresheet in the 3-1 win at Southampton. Mitoma was everywhere, he was lightning quick. The ball never left his feet.
He added: ‘Mitoma is worth at least £70 million in the current market. Brighton should keep him if they can. He has played a vital role in Brighton’s success 토토사이트.
Mitoma has been making waves in the EPL this season and has become a household name for Brighton. Bids from “big clubs” have been pouring in. He is challenging Son Heung-min (Tottenham) to become the first Asian player to break all records.
The Team of the Week features Brian Mbemo (Brentford) and Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic in the midfield, with Mitoma, Kasemir (Man Utd), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest) and Jerrod Bowen (West Ham).
Rico Henry (Brentford), Yerry Mina (Everton), Victor Lindelof (Man Utd), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle) and David Luiz (Brentford) are the back four, with David Laya (Brentford) in goal.