Brighton 5-0 Palace was decided inside ten minutes at the Amex on Sunday. Diego Gomez scored from the halfway line in the M23 derby, and Brighton moved to 16 points from their first seven Premier League games.
Palace went behind inside four minutes. Jaydee Canvot headed Pascal Gross’s free-kick into his own net. Three minutes later Gomez picked up a pass from Olivier Boscagli, saw Walter Benitez off his line and drove in a 51-metre finish. Yasin Ayari then made it 3-0 on ten minutes. His shot took a deflection off Canvot after Charalampos Kostoulas back-heeled the ball into his path.
Brighton 5-0 Palace: Gomez goal one of the longest in the Premier League era
The Independent reported that in the Brighton 5-0 Palace game Gomez scored the longest-range Premier League goal since Wayne Rooney hit one from 58 metres for Everton against West Ham in November 2017. It also recalled David Beckham’s effort against Wimbledon 30 years ago. Palace captain Adam Wharton gave the ball away just inside Brighton’s half in the build-up, so the result looked settled from that moment.
Kostoulas added the fourth early in the second half. He poked home after Ayari’s first shot was blocked. Sky Sports reported that a VAR check for handball did not stop the goal. Jack Hinshelwood then scored the fifth six minutes from time, after Benitez saved Luka Vuskovic’s header. For the other side of the scoreline, Palace did have chances of their own, however: Jean-Philippe Mateta hit the crossbar and Jefferson Lerma hit the post.
What Brighton 5-0 Palace means
Brighton had not beaten Palace in four attempts under Fabian Hurzeler, according to the Independent. Palace beat him 1-0 at the Amex in February, and supporters booed Brighton off the pitch. This time Brighton won comfortably. Football365 pointed out that they have now won four straight league games without conceding. Four of the five league goals they have let in this season came in one game at Chelsea in August.
A day to forget for Palace
For Palace, it was a miserable afternoon. Their fans had arrived waving inflatable Conference League trophies at the Brighton supporters. After the game, midfielder Adam Wharton told Sky Sports the team were “second to everything” and that the start was “nowhere near good enough”.
Our Premier League weekend coverage guide has the rest of the fixtures and UK kick-off times after Brighton 5-0 Palace.
Match details from The Independent, Sky Sports and Football365.
