Brighton vs Crystal Palace Report

Scorers: Guehi (OG) 87’; Chalobah 27’, Sarr 33’, 82’

Crystal Palace secured a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion in the M23 derby, extending their unbeaten Premier League run to five matches.

Ismaïla Sarr starred with a goal and an assist, helping the Eagles to claim their first win in seven H2Hs against their fierce rivals.

First Half: Clinical Palace

The opening exchanges were scrappy, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm amid a flurry of fouls that disrupted the flow of the game. Brighton dominated possession but lacked incisiveness in the final third.

Their wastefulness was punished in the 27th minute when Will Hughes’ corner caused chaos in the Seagulls’ box, and Trevoh Chalobah bundled the ball home to give Palace the lead.

The goal injected confidence into the Eagles, who piled on the pressure. Brighton’s goalkeeper, Bart Verbruggen, was called into action with a superb double save, denying Ismaïla Sarr and Daniel Muñoz in quick succession.

However, Verbruggen was helpless moments later when Tyrick Mitchell delivered a precise cross for Sarr to head home, doubling Palace’s lead before HT.

Second Half: Brighton Fight Back

In a bid to turn the game around, Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler introduced Julio Enciso at the restart, and the Paraguayan playmaker had an immediate impact.

Enciso orchestrated Brighton’s attacks, creating opportunities for Kaoru Mitoma and João Pedro, but Palace’s defense, led by Maxence Lacroix, stood firm.

Brighton continued to build momentum, with Lewis Dunk forcing a spectacular save from Palace keeper Dean Henderson, who then outdid himself with an even better stop to deny Enciso’s curling effort from range.

Just as the Seagulls looked likely to pull one back, Palace almost sealed the win with a third goal, but Sarr’s assist for Muñoz was ruled out for a foul on Pervis Estupiñán in the buildup.

Late Drama

Palace finally made their dominance count in the 82nd minute. Sarr intercepted a misplaced pass from Dunk, drove into the box, and coolly slotted past Verbruggen to secure the three points.

Brighton managed a late consolation when a deflection off Marc Guéhi ended up in his own net, but it was too little, too late for the Seagulls.

Implications

For Crystal Palace: The win moves the Eagles up to 15th place, a much-needed boost as they look to climb away from the relegation zone. With their attacking players finding form, Oliver Glasner’s side seem to be hitting their stride after a shaky start.

For Brighton: The Seagulls suffer their first home defeat of the season, a blow to their push for a European place. Despite dominating possession, their inability to convert chances into goals leaves them vulnerable against well-organised opponents.

What’s Next?

• Brighton & Hove Albion: The Seagulls face a tough away trip to Manchester City, looking to bounce back from this disappointing result.
• Crystal Palace: The Eagles will aim to build on their momentum with a winnable home fixture against Burnley.

This result will serve as a sweet moment for Crystal Palace, especially in the context of their fierce rivalry with Brighton, while the Seagulls will rue missed opportunities in a game that could have had a very different outcome.

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Brighton v Crystal Palace, 2024/25 | Premier League