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 the 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 for an innocent trip by Jonathan Clauss on Tariq Lamptey, but Roberto de Zerbi’s team deserved something for the way they responded to a dreadful first 20 minutes.

Briefly, the raucous din inside the Stade Velodrome fell missing and Lewis Dunk was hurt in the celebrations before Roberto de Zerbi’s team closed out the game.

De Zerbi promised a reaction to the 6-1 defeat at Aston Villa on Saturday but his team were soon leaking more goals, the first swept in by centre-half Chancel Mbemba from a low cross by right back Clauss.

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

It was an awful start by the Premier League club and it could have been worse. Jason Steele tipped over from Harit but continuously Brighton 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 pitchside screen for a possible handball by Marseille captain Valentin Rongier as he defended at a corner.

The ball struck Rongier on an arm as he tussled with Jan-Paul van Hecke but the Ukrainian referee decided 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 flying to his left to keep out a header by Ansu Fati and another to close the angle and block from Danny Welbeck, who was played clean through by Joel Veltman. Solly March was also through on goal but dragged his effort wide.

The flourish offered encouragement and Pascal Gross pulled a goal back early in the second half, a cool finish after good work on the left by Tariq Lamptey and a pass by Kaoru Mitoma.

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

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

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Joao Pedro coolly finished his penalty to save a point for the Seagulls away from home

Jordan Veretout scored the all important second goal for Marseille to secure the win