Brighton and Hove Albion were taught a harsh lesson on their Europa League debut as Greek champions AEK Athens ran out 3-2 winners after a pulsating encounter at the Amex Stadium. Substitute Ezequiel Ponce struck the winner on the counter attack six minutes from the end of normal time as Roberto De Zerbi’s side failed to heed the signs after falling behind twice previously in the first half. Joao Pedro equalised from the penalty spot in the first period then again in the second, both times after VAR had intervened in Brighton’s favour. The hosts had the better of the play but they lacked the clinical edge of AEK, who scored with two excellent finishes from set-pieces. The first goal was a superb header from Djibril Sidibe, followed by a sliding finish from Mijat Gacinovic as Brighton were undone by nerves and their own naivety. The opening goal came after 11 minutes and was against the early run of the play. AEK’s first attack saw them win a corner on the left after a low cross was turned behind. As the ball was whipped in, no one had picked up the lurking Sidibe who with a late dash into the box caught Brighton out with a superb 15-yard diving header that whistled past Jason Steele. De Zerbi’s side had been badly caught out, and seconds later it could have been two. Levi Garcia, who would torment Brighton in the first period with pace and clever movement, raced beyond the defence and went through on goal, but Garcia’s tame finish was too close to Steele. Garcia wasted another glorious chance to double the lead from an almost identical position, this time slipping his effort just beyond the far post. Pedro nodded wide from a free header inside the six-yard box as Brighton finally put together an attack to concern the AEK defence, but within a minute he had made amends for his profligacy. When defender Ehsan Hajsafi dangled a leg as Pedro looked to cut inside to shoot the referee initially booked the striker for diving. But after a pitchside VAR review the booking was rescinded, Pedro stepped up and coolly rolled his penalty beyond Cican Stankovic to score Brighton’s first European goal. At that stage it appeared that they had had their reprieve for the way they had left themselves vulnerable to AEK’s threat, but five minutes before the break there was another fine delivery from a set-piece and another critical lapse in concentration. Brighton held a high line on the edge of their own box as a free-kick was whipped in from 40 yards out, but as blue shirts charged back towards their own goal none could prevent Gacinovic from sliding to get a foot on the ball to turn it beyond Steele. There was still time for Jan-Paul Van Hecke to deny Orbelin Pineda what would have been a deserved third for AEK on the stroke of half-time. There was relief then around the Amex when the referee was directed pitch-side for another VAR review after Pedro’s tumble inside the box under Damian Szymanski’s challenge had at first been waved on. As in the first half, the decision was overturned, and Pedro got to his feet to replicate his earlier composed finish to draw Brighton level again. De Zerbi was booked for remonstrating too forcefully on the touchline, before Pedro was handed the chance to seal his hat-trick and an opening night win when he spring the offside trap and went one-on-one with Stankovic. This time the goalkeeper got the better of their duel. Then came AEK’s final sting. A raking ball from the back was nodded out wide by Ponce to Niclas Eliasson, who returned the ball to his fellow substitute. Although Steele blocked Ponce’s shot, the rebound ricocheted off the Argentinian and into the net for the winner. Read More Abdallah Sima fires Rangers to victory in Europa League clash with Real Betis West Ham storm past minnows Backa Topola after early scare in Europa League Liverpool produce another comeback win to beat LASK in Europa League Rangers vs Real Betis LIVE: Latest Europa League updates LASK vs Liverpool LIVE: Latest Europa League updates Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool better prepared for Europa League now than in 2016

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This is the moment people got stuck on a ride following the collapse of a mobile pool and diving platforms at Germany’s biggest theme park. Several people were injured in the accident on Monday at Europa-Park in Rust. The park said a mobile pool cracked and diving platforms attached to it from which acrobats jump collapsed during a show on Monday afternoon. Water from the pool flowed into a water ride attraction called Atlantica SuperSplash. Police said that five performers and two visitors were injured and that three of the performers were taken to a hospital for checks. Read More Moment Morocco realise they’ve qualified for World Cup knockouts in debut tournament German music festival turns into mud pit after being hit by heavy rain Watch: Sailors rescued after boat breaks in two off Florida coast

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Barcelona boss Jonatan Giraldez believes experience will be key in the Women’s Champions League final against Wolfsburg. The teams face off in Eindhoven on Saturday with Barca going for a second title and Wolfsburg a third. Barca have won one – in 2021 – and lost two – in 2019 and last year – of the finals they have played. Wolfsburg have been beaten finalists three times, most recently in 2020, and won the competition in 2013 and 2014. Giraldez said: “Experience is one of the most important things and that goes for all areas of life. The more experience you have the better you will do. “That doesn’t just go for Barcelona but also national teams. The more finals you have played in the better you know how to approach the week leading up to it, the match itself, mentally. “All of that is important in football and sometimes you need time to gain that experience.” Barca travelled to Eindhoven on Friday with a fully-fit squad after Lucy Bronze and Fridolina Rolfo were passed fit. Giraldez added: “We need to minimise their strengths. We will be wary of their quick attacks and set-pieces. We want to dominate the game and not let them show their strengths.” Experience is one of the most important things and that goes for all areas of life. The more experience you have the better you will do Jonatan Giraldez Wolfsburg finished second to Bayern Munich in the Frauen-Bundesliga this season and boss Tommy Stroot believes they can capture the title in Holland. He said: “It is a realistic objective, I have made so many positive experiences. This final is very special for me and it’s always been an objective. “It’s always the same thing for us, to decode the structure, to see what kind of frequencies they use. That is our daily work and my players know that as well. “It’s a final but it’s no different to the semi-final against Arsenal. We try to watch even more games and decode even more things just to be prepared for every scenario possible. “Our players are ready. It’s something special, not many teams have that privilege in a final. We have all the options to react on anything.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live England declare with victory in sight after Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett heroics Government appoints independent advisers to aid rugby union rescue effort Ben Duckett breaks Lord’s record as Ollie Pope piles on runs for bullish England