Brighton delivered a crushing 5-0 defeat to Crystal Palace, with Diego Gomez scoring an extraordinary goal from the halfway line. The win marked the Seagulls' largest margin over the Eagles since 1956 and briefly moved them to second in the Premier League.
brighton vs palace: match highlights
The opening goal arrived in the fourth minute when Jaydee Canvot headed an own‑goal. Three minutes later, Gomez seized on a loose ball, noticed goalkeeper Walter Benitez off his line and launched a shot that travelled 51 metres before slipping under the crossbar. The strike was described by commentators as the season's most spectacular goal.
Within ten minutes, Yasin Ayari doubled the lead, capitalising on a back‑heel pass from Charalampos Kostoulas. Kostoulas later added a fourth goal early in the second half after an Ayari effort deflected to him. The final tally came when Jack Hinshelwood tapped in after Benitez saved a Luka Vuskovic header.
Arsenal’s concurrent win and Brighton’s league standing
Brighton's ascent to second place was short‑lived. Later that day, Arsenal defeated Nottingham Forest, pushing the Seagulls back to third. The shift underscores how tightly contested the top of the table remains.
Charalampos Kostoulas contribution
Kostoulas, who entered the match as a substitute, scored the fourth goal, further cementing Brighton’s dominance. His involvement in the build‑up to Ayari’s third‑minute strike also highlighted his impact.
brighton & hove albion f.c. vs crystal palace f.c. standings
Historically, the two clubs have met infrequently in high‑scoring affairs. This 5-0 result eclipses their previous best margin from 1956, when both sides were in the old Division Three South.
Brighton’s attacking display adds to a season that already includes wins over Aston Villa (4-0), Arsenal (3-0) and Coventry City (5-0 away). The team now leads the league in goals scored.
What lies ahead for both clubs?
Brighton will travel to the Czech Republic for a Conference League tie against Jablonec, while Palace faces a challenging Europa League fixture against Besiktas in Turkey. Palace manager Pierre Sage expressed remorse over the performance and apologised to supporters, acknowledging the defensive shortcomings that have left the club with the worst record in the league after seven games.
The match also marked the return of Jean‑Philippe Mateta for Palace after a two‑month injury layoff, though his effort struck the crossbar.
Sources: BBC, The Guardian, Rediff.
