Diego Gomez scores from halfway as Brighton thrash Crystal Palace
Diego Gomez's spectacular strike helped Brighton beat Crystal Palace 5-0 on Sunday, with an overwhelming early burst setting up a victory that lifted them to second in the Premier League.
By Hushread Stories, written with AI from 8 outlets · First published 18 Oct 2026
In brief
- Diego Gomez scored from the halfway line during Brighton's Premier League victory over Crystal Palace.
- The seventh minute strike was Gomez's first goal of the season, following Olivier Boscagli's high recovery.
- Gomez sent the ball over stranded Palace goalkeeper Walter Benitez as Brighton dominated the opening stages.
- Brighton led by three goals after ten minutes and completed a convincing victory by five goals.
- The result lifted Brighton to second in the Premier League, though that position remained provisional.
Timeline · 3 moments
Brighton complete emphatic 5-0 victory over Crystal Palace
Guardian Sport ↗Brighton reach three goals inside opening ten minutes
DER SPIEGEL - Schlagzeilen – Tops ↗Boscagli wins possession high to launch scoring move
L'Équipe ↗How it started
Brighton's meeting with Crystal Palace at the Amex Stadium on Sunday produced an extraordinary goal almost immediately. Diego Gomez scored from the halfway line during a devastating early burst, according to GB News.
The move began with Olivier Boscagli winning the ball high up the pitch. L'Équipe reported that Gomez's seventh minute strike opened his scoring account for the season.
How it unfolded
On 18 October, Gomez took advantage of Palace goalkeeper Walter Benitez's position to send the ball over him from halfway. Express & Star described Benitez as stranded as the Brighton midfielder struck.
The distance and execution brought comparisons with David Beckham's famous goal against Wimbledon in 1996, according to The42. It was the standout moment of an opening spell in which Palace quickly lost control of the match.
Brighton were already 3-0 ahead after ten minutes, DER SPIEGEL reported. They went on to win 5-0, with Guardian Sport identifying Gomez's goal as the highlight of the thrashing.
Where it stands
The victory put Brighton provisionally second in the Premier League, according to DER SPIEGEL. Gomez's first goal of the season supplied the memorable image, but the final score also reflected Brighton's wider attacking strength: L'Équipe described them as the league's best attack.
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