Brighton & Hove Albion 4-0 Kauno Žalgiris: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings
Europa Conference League Matchday 1 · Thursday 15 October 2026 · The American Express Community Stadium, Falmer · referee M. Redder · full time
Full time: Brighton & Hove Albion 4-0 Kauno Žalgiris
Brighton & Hove Albion beat Kauno Žalgiris 4-0 in Europa Conference League Matchday 1 on Thursday 15 October 2026 at The American Express Community Stadium. The goals: Georginio Rutter 41', Jack Hinshelwood 45+2', Georginio Rutter 53', Matt O'Riley 67'. It went against Moneyball's pre-match estimate.
How Brighton & Hove Albion won it
Brighton & Hove Albion struck first through Georginio Rutter in the 41st minute, set up by Ibrahim Osman. Jack Hinshelwood made it 2-0 to Brighton & Hove Albion in the 45th minute (+2), set up by Georginio Rutter. Georginio Rutter made it 3-0 to Brighton & Hove Albion in the 53rd minute, set up by Ibrahim Osman. Matt O'Riley made it 4-0 to Brighton & Hove Albion in the 67th minute, set up by Younes Ibrahim.
It was 2-0 at half-time.
Georginio Rutter scored twice.
The referee, M. Redder, showed 1 yellow card: 0 to Brighton & Hove Albion and 1 to Kauno Žalgiris.
Brighton & Hove Albion: F. Hürzeler, 4-3-3 · Kauno Žalgiris: Ž. Sopić, 4-1-4-1.
Moneyball's prediction against the result
The prediction missed. Moneyball's pick on the Match Board was Kauno Zalgiris +3.50 at 1.79, and on 4-0 it lost.
The estimate's most likely result was a Brighton & Hove Albion win at 95%, and that is what happened. Its single most likely score was 3-0 (14%).
On goals the estimate was close: about 4.2 expected, 4 scored.
Over 2.5 goals had been put at 77%; with 4 goals the over came in, as the estimate leaned.
Both teams to score was 28%; they did not both score, in line with the estimate.
Computed before kick-off from both sides' season goals and expected goals as of 2026-10-09, through a Dixon-Coles score model, and left as it was.
Why it went this way
Brighton & Hove Albion had 9 shots on target, Kauno Žalgiris 1.
Kauno Žalgiris's goalkeeper made 5 saves.
Brighton & Hove Albion had 78% of the ball and turned it into the win.
Where the two sides stood before this match
Brighton & Hove Albion came into it with 3 Europa Conference League matches played, scoring 2.7 and conceding 0.0 a match, with 2.40 expected goals for and – against, and had won 67% of their matches.
Kauno Žalgiris came into it with 1 Europa Conference League matches played, scoring 0.0 and conceding 4.0 a match, with 0.10 expected goals for and – against, and had won 0% of their matches.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Kauno Žalgiris: the match in numbers
| Brighton & Hove Albion | Match statistics | Kauno Žalgiris |
|---|---|---|
| 78% | Ball possession | 22% |
| 35 | Total shots | 4 |
| 9 | Shots on target | 1 |
| 9 | Big chances | 0 |
| 691 | Total passes | 211 |
| 91% | Pass accuracy | 64% |
| 13 | Corners | 0 |
| 11 | Fouls | 8 |
| 9 | Tackles | 21 |
| 1 | Saves | 5 |
| 0 | Yellow cards | 1 |
Team statistics from Sportmonks.
Player ratings and man of the match
Man of the match: Georginio Rutter (Brighton & Hove Albion), rated 8.7 by Sportmonks, with 2 goals, 1 assist.
Brighton & Hove Albion
- Georginio Rutter 8.7 2 goals, 1 assist
- Pascal Groß 8.3
- Ibrahim Osman 7.9 2 assists
- Malick Yalcouyé 7.8
- Maxim De Cuyper 7.7
Kauno Žalgiris
- Franco Baldassarra 6.9
- Anton Tolordava 6.7
- Gabriel Debeljuh 6.7
- Vykintas Slivka 6.7
- Yukiyoshi Karashima 6.6
The lowest-rated starter was Aldayr Hernández at 5.9. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.
What comes next
- Brighton & Hove Albion: Brighton & Hove Albion vs Crystal Palace Sunday 18 October 2026 · Premier League
- Kauno Žalgiris: Kauno Žalgiris vs Brann Thursday 22 October 2026 · Europa Conference League
Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.
Questions about Brighton & Hove Albion vs Kauno Žalgiris
What was the score in Brighton & Hove Albion vs Kauno Žalgiris?
Brighton & Hove Albion 4-0 Kauno Žalgiris (half-time 2-0), Europa Conference League, Thursday 15 October 2026.
Who scored in Brighton & Hove Albion vs Kauno Žalgiris?
Georginio Rutter 41', Jack Hinshelwood 45+2', Georginio Rutter 53', Matt O'Riley 67'.
Did Moneyball predict Brighton & Hove Albion vs Kauno Žalgiris correctly?
The prediction missed. Moneyball's pick on the Match Board was Kauno Zalgiris +3.50 at 1.79, and on 4-0 it lost.
Who was man of the match in Brighton & Hove Albion vs Kauno Žalgiris?
Georginio Rutter, rated 8.7 by Sportmonks.
Who refereed Brighton & Hove Albion vs Kauno Žalgiris?
M. Redder.
Every match, before and after
Moneyball Odds writes a preview with its estimate before every match of Europe's top five leagues and the European cups, then marks it against the result, hits and misses alike.
Moneyball Odds is a statistical analysis site, not a bookmaker. No model predicts football reliably. For readers aged 18 and over.