Diego Gomez (Credits: BBC Sport)
Brighton & Hove Albion produced a derby demolition for the ages on Sunday, thrashing fierce rivals Crystal Palace 5-0 at the Amex Stadium in a Premier League match that will be remembered for one extraordinary moment: Diego Gomez’s stunning goal from the halfway line.
The Seagulls raced into a three-goal lead inside ten minutes, the earliest any Premier League side has reached three goals in a match since Newcastle scored three against Tottenham inside eight minutes in April 2023. It was Brighton’s biggest win over Palace since 1956.
The Opening Blitz
Brighton took the lead inside four minutes when Jaydee Canvot headed Pascal Gross’s free-kick into his own net. Three minutes later came the goal everyone will be talking about. Olivier Boscagli won possession from Palace captain Adam Wharton, and the 23-year-old Paraguayan midfielder spotted goalkeeper Walter Benitez off his line before unleashing a spectacular 51-metre strike that sailed over the backtracking keeper and dipped beneath the crossbar.
Data provider Opta reported it was the furthest distance from which a goal has been scored in the Premier League since Wayne Rooney’s 58-metre strike for Everton against West Ham in November 2017. Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler was full of praise: “We don’t train shots from 50 metres. The perception to recognise the keeper and the quickness to act were impressive.”
Ayari, Kostoulas and Hinshelwood Complete the Rout
Yasin Ayari made it 3-0 on ten minutes, latching onto Charalampos Kostoulas’s clever backheel before firing home with a deflection off Canvot. Any hope of a Palace fightback was extinguished four minutes into the second half when Kostoulas poked home the fourth after Ayari’s shot was blocked.
Palace did have their moments: Jean-Philippe Mateta, back after nearly two months out with a hamstring injury, crashed an effort against the crossbar, and Jefferson Lerma headed against the post. But Brighton had the final say in the 84th minute when Jack Hinshelwood converted from close range after Benitez parried Luka Vuskovic’s header.
What the Result Means
The win was Brighton’s fourth straight Premier League victory and lifted them to 16 points from seven games, five points behind leaders Manchester City. It also marked their eighth clean sheet in all competitions this season. For Palace manager Pierre Sage, the heavy derby defeat raised fresh questions about his side’s defensive organisation after they were repeatedly exposed.
Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
