Marseille 2-2 Brighton: Substitute Joao Pedro rescues a draw from the spot after Ligue 1 side score two goals inside one minute in the first half

They did it the hard way, but Brighton have their first Europa League point on the board after fighting back from two down in Marseille.

Joao Pedro came off the bench to score the equalizer from the spot in the 88th minute, his third penalty in two games in the competition.

It was a soft one, awarded to a harmless trip from Jonathan Clauss on Tariq Lamptey, but Roberto de Zerbi’s side deserved something for the way they responded to a dreadful opening 20 minutes.

In short, the raucous noise in the Stade Velodrome disappeared and Lewis Dunk was injured during the celebrations before Roberto de Zerbi’s team closed out the match.

De Zerbi promised a response to the 6-1 defeat at Aston Villa on Saturday, but his team soon leaked more goals. The first was netted by central defender Chancel Mbemba after a low cross from right back Clauss.

The second Marseille goal came just 89 seconds later when Brighton captain Dunk left the ball under his foot while trying to control a routine long ball. Dunk’s mistake released Amine Harit and he picked out midfielder Jordan Veretout to score.

It was a terrible start for the Premier League club and it could have been worse. Jason Steele tipped over from Harit, but Brighton steadily found their rhythm and created three excellent chances before half-time.

There was also a brief moment when they thought they had a penalty. Referee Mykola Balakin was advised to check replays on his field screen for a possible handball from Marseille captain Valentin Rongier while defending from a corner.

The ball hit Rongier on the arm as he struggled with Jan-Paul van Hecke, but the Ukrainian referee ruled that Brighton’s Dutch defender had committed a foul.

Marseille keeper Pau Lopez produced two fine saves as his team came under pressure at the end of the first half. One flew to the left to deny Ansu Fati’s header and the other to close the corner and block from Danny Welbeck, who was played out. clean by by Joel Veltman. Solly March was also through on goal, but his effort went wide.

The bloom offered encouragement and Pascal Gross netted a goal early in the second half, a cool finish after good work on the left from Tariq Lamptey and a pass from Kaoru Mitoma.

Dunk made an excellent recovery block on Vitinha to prevent a third-place finish for Marseille and De Zerbi made changes in search of the equalizer.

Mitoma was denied by Lopez and Simon Adringra before Pedro equalized from the penalty spot.