Late Pedro goal gives Brighton win over Marseille and top spot in Europa League group
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Soccer Football - Europa League - Group B - Brighton & Hove Albion v Olympique de Marseille - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - December 14, 2023 Brighton & Hove Albion's Joao Pedro celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Toby Melville
BRIGHTON, England - Joao Pedro's late goal earned Brighton & Hove Albion a dramatic 1-0 win over Olympique Marseille on Thursday to secure the hosts top spot in Europa League Group B.
Both sides went into the final matchday of the group stage assured of a place in the next round but Brighton needed all three points to progress to the round of 16 as leaders.
Marseille will go into the play-off rounds after finishing two points behind Brighton with 11.
Pedro scored two minutes from time from a Pascal Gross pass with a superb shot into the top left corner to send the home crowd into raptures. The Brazilian reached six goals in six games in the tournament.
Marseille had come close to taking the lead with two shots hitting the woodwork early in each half.
In the other group fixture, Ajax won 3-1 at AEK Athens to finish third and go into the Europa Conference League knockout play-offs. REUTERS
