Brighton & Hove Albion thrash Crystal Palace 5-0 at Falmer.

The Premier League clash between Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace unfolded at the American Express Stadium in Falmer on 18 October 2026. Both sides entered the match looking to add points, but the home side quickly turned the fixture into a one-sided showcase.

How it unfolded

The opening stages were dramatic. Just four minutes in, Crystal Palace defender Jaydee Canvot inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, giving Brighton an early lead. Only three minutes later, Diego Gómez doubled the advantage. The winger struck a right-footed shot from beyond 35 yards, finding the high centre of the goal after a swift break, with Olivier Boscagli credited for the assist.

The on-fire Brighton attack continued at the ten-minute mark when Yasin Ayari added the third goal. He slotted a right-footed finish from the centre of the box into the bottom left corner, set up by Charalambos Kostoulas. By the end of the first half, the visitors were already four goals down.

The first half concluded with a booking for Brighton’s Pascal Gross in the 29th minute; the referee cautioned him for a bad foul.

The second half began with a further blow for Palace. In the 49th minute, Charalambos Kostoulas, who had earlier provided an assist, scored his own goal. A left-footed strike from the centre of the box found the bottom left corner and was confirmed after a VAR review, taking the tally to 4-0.

Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada received a yellow card in the 51st minute for a bad foul, while Brighton’s Chema Andrés was booked in the 64th minute for a similar infringement.

The final goal arrived in the 84th minute. Following a corner, Jack Hinshelwood capitalised, firing a right-footed shot from very close range into the top left corner to complete the 5-0 rout.

Standout performers

  • Diego Gómez – Scored the second goal with a long-range effort, showcasing his shooting power.
  • Yasin Ayari – Added the third goal, demonstrating composure inside the box.
  • Charalambos Kostoulas – Provided an assist for Ayari and later scored the fourth goal, contributing both creatively and decisively.
  • Jack Hinshelwood – Closed the scoring, converting from a corner with clinical finishing.

Match facts

  • Final score: Brighton & Hove Albion 5-0 Crystal Palace
  • Scorers:
    • 4' Jaydee Canvot (own goal)
    • 7' Diego Gómez (assist Olivier Boscagli)
    • 10' Yasin Ayari (assist Charalambos Kostoulas)
    • 49' Charalambos Kostoulas
    • 84' Jack Hinshelwood
  • Bookings:
    • Pascal Gross (Brighton) – 29' (bad foul)
    • Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace) – 51' (bad foul)
    • Chema Andrés (Brighton) – 64' (bad foul)
  • Venue: American Express Stadium, Falmer

What it means

The comprehensive win gives Brighton & Hove Albion three points and a strong statement of attacking intent, while Crystal Palace return home without any points, highlighting the defensive challenges they faced in this particular fixture.