Brighton Soars with Stunning Victory Over Palace
Diego Gomez found the back of the net against Crystal Palace, marking his seventh Premier League goal, but it was his first since March.
Brighton is not just leading the Premier League in scoring; they’re doing it with some exceptional strikes. Lewis Dunk’s incredible 35-yard goal against Coventry earned him the Premier League Goal of the Month for September, but just weeks later, Gomez has already stolen the spotlight.
In Brighton's dominant 5-0 victory over Palace, Gomez unleashed a stunning shot from the halfway line. Seeing goalkeeper Walter Benitez off his line, he took the chance, and despite Benitez's frantic effort to get back, the ball nestled just beneath the crossbar.
“I knew it was in as soon as he hit it. He’s taken the goal of the season off me!” Dunk joked after the match.
Former Premier League striker Efan Ekoku, commenting for BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, proclaimed, “That’s the goal of the season so far, what a hit! It was struck beautifully, right over the keeper’s head from the center circle.”
Gomez’s remarkable strike came just seven minutes into the match, putting Brighton two goals ahead. His shot from 51 meters is now the longest-range Premier League goal since Wayne Rooney's 58-meter effort back in 2017.
“When I scored, I didn’t know how to celebrate,” Gomez reflected. “I saw the goalkeeper was a bit too far forward. I was really happy with the goal.”
Shay Given, a former Newcastle goalkeeper and Match of the Day pundit, compared Gomez’s effort to David Beckham's famous goal against Wimbledon, stating, “I don’t blame Benitez. He was positioned well, but you just have to admire Gomez for that brilliant strike.”
Gomez previously played alongside stars like Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi at Inter Miami before joining Brighton in January 2025.
Brighton is making waves this season, sitting with 16 points from seven matches. Fans are hopeful for a push towards Champions League qualification or even a title challenge. With 23 goals scored, they’re outpacing league leaders Manchester City by four goals and more than doubling reigning champions Arsenal's tally of 11.
Historically, only three teams have scored more in their first seven Premier League games: Arsenal (24 in 2009-10), Manchester United (24 in 2011-12), and Manchester City (27 in 2019-20).
Brighton’s dynamic play has captured attention across Europe, with only Barcelona's 39 goals in La Liga topping their tally among the top five leagues.
With ten different players finding the net this season, Brighton, currently third in the table, has become the league’s entertainment kings. They kicked off the season with a 4-0 win over Aston Villa, and since then, they've continued to shine, racking up victories like a 5-0 win at Coventry, a 3-0 triumph against Arsenal, and now this 5-0 demolition of Palace.
They also showcased their tenacity in the Carabao Cup, coming back from 2-0 down to eliminate Manchester United with a 3-2 victory at Old Trafford. In the Conference League, they’ve been formidable, scoring four goals against both Tromso and Kauno Zalgiris.
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler, the youngest permanent manager in Premier League history, is basking in the contrast from their previous clash with Palace, where they lost 1-0 when they were languishing in 14th place. Now, with the team riding high, Hurzeler is cautious not to let the success go to their heads.
“We have to stay humble,” he urged. “The season is long, and we can’t afford to be satisfied. We need to keep pushing and understand the reasons for our success.”
Hurzeler is also keen to keep Gomez grounded. “Scoring a goal like that isn’t simple. It’s great to celebrate, but we must remember there’s always room for improvement,” he noted, emphasizing the importance of precision and recognizing opportunities.
With Brighton's next five matches all away from home, including challenging fixtures against Liverpool and Manchester City, fans will have to cherish this win and Gomez's stunning goal. When they return to the Amex on November 8 to face Brentford, it’ll be clearer just how high the hopes for this season can soar.
As Given remarked, “You never know, just look at Leicester in 2016 or Blackburn in 1995. They could be the surprise package this season, but it’s a long winter ahead.”
