Match Report: VCF lose out to BHAFC (2-1)

Valencia CF took on Brighton and Hove Albion for their fourth preseason test at 7 pm (BST) at  the Amex Stadium as part of Bruno Saltor’s tribute match who bid goodbye to his footballing career.

Friday’s match was the first-ever meeting between the two sides. Valencia CF had a slow start with Brighton and Hove Albion in possession in the first minutes of the match but with neither side getting a foothold in the game.

Rodrigo Moreno gave Valencia CF the lead at the Amex thanks to a delightful Cheryshev delivery into Rodrigo Moreno who poked it home at the near post and past former Valencia CF keeper Matthew Ryan on 28 minutes.

Glenn Murray brought the Seagulls back level after he went over inside the box and scored the resulting spot-kick just ten minutes later. Valencia CF tried to get back in front but the first half finished 1-1 with nothing to separate the sides at half-time.   

Marcelino made four substitutions at the break as the started the second half on the ball knocking it well trying to look for an opening to get themselves back in front.  The first clear-cut Valencia CF chance fell to Mouctar Diakhaby who powered in a header but his effort was headed off the line by Stephens.   

The game stagnated with both sides exchanging possession and half-chances until Shane Duffy headed Brighton and Hove Albion back in front from a corner kick with five minutes of normal time left to play.

The match finished 2-1 to Brighton and Hove Albion. Valencia CF will play against Bayer 04 Leverkusen on Sunday at 2 pm at the Bay Arena, Marcelino’s side final pre-season game before the Trofeo Naranja curtain-raiser against Inter Milan.   

Match Details:

2. Brighton & Hove Albion: Ryan, Martín Montoya, Burn, Dunk ©, Duffy, March, Stephens, Pröpper, Murray, Locadia, and Trossard. They also played Gross, Andone, Kayal, Bernardo, and Jahanbakhsh.

1. Valencia CF: Doménech, Piccini (Wass, m. 61), G. Paulista (Garay, m. 61), Diakhaby (Javi Jiménez, m. 72), Gayà (Salva Ruiz, m. 46), Parejo © ( Carlos Soler, m. 71), Coquelin (Kondogbia, m. 35), Kang In (Guedes, m. 46), Cheryshev (Ferran, m. 46), Rodrigo M. (Manu Vallejo, m. 46) and Maxi Gómez (Jason, m. 72).

Goals: 0-1. M. 27: Dunk in own door. 1-1. M. 38: Murray. 2-1. M. 86: Duffy.

Referee: David Coote. He booked Lewis Dunk for BHAFC.

Observations: Fourth preseason game played at Amex Stadium in Brighton before 16,217 spectators, with the presence of Valencianistas in the Amex stands. The former VCF and BHAFC player, Bruno Saltor, received a tribute in the moments leading up to kick-off.