Diego Gomez scores from halfway as Brighton build early lead against Crystal Palace
The Paraguay midfielder beat Walter Benitez from about 51 metres at the Amex Stadium, putting Brighton 2-0 ahead in the seventh minute.
Diego Gomez scored from just inside the halfway line for Brighton against Crystal Palace at the Amex Stadium in Brighton, England, on Sunday, October 18, putting his side 2-0 ahead in the seventh minute of their Premier League match. The strike extended Brighton's early lead over their rivals and beat goalkeeper Walter Benitez from about 51 metres.
How Gomez beat Walter Benitez from halfway
Gomez, a Paraguay international, collected the ball near the halfway line and advanced just into Palace's half before shooting over Benitez, according to the Associated Press. NBC Sports reported that the goalkeeper was near the penalty spot when Gomez struck. Its estimate of 51 metres is about 56 yards, making the shot possible from only a step or so inside the opposition half.
NBC Sports described the shot as driven with pace and power, rather than a hopeful lob. From Benitez's position, Gomez found the upper part of the goal, the outlet reported. The Daily Mail identified the Brighton midfielder as 23 years old and likewise reported that his attempt from halfway beat the Palace goalkeeper.
Brighton's first-half lead against Crystal Palace
Brighton had led 1-0 through an own goal before Gomez scored, NBC Sports reported. AP said Brighton added a third goal three minutes after his seventh-minute strike. The Daily Mail described the side as 3-0 up during the first half and second in the Premier League table at that point. Those were live-match positions; the reports did not establish the final score or Brighton's final league position.
The distance record and Beckham comparison
NBC Sports cited data provider Opta as saying Gomez's was the longest-range Premier League goal since Wayne Rooney scored for Everton against West Ham from 58 metres in November 2017. The comparison puts the distance of Gomez's 51-metre strike in recent league context, without making it a Premier League record.
AP also compared Gomez's shot with David Beckham's long-range goal for Manchester United against Wimbledon on the opening day of the 1996-97 Premier League season. Beckham's strike, from a similar area of the pitch, became one of English football's most famous goals and helped bring him wider attention. Gomez's effort supplied a comparable moment in a rivalry match while Brighton were building their first-half lead.
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Sources and context
- Diego Gomez scores from halfway line for Brighton to revive memories of David Beckham's famous goalAssociated Press (republished by Yahoo Sports)
- Brighton's Diego Gomez scores from the halfway line as Seagulls blitz rivals PalaceNBC Sports
- Brighton star scores INCREDIBLE goal from the halfway lineDaily Mail
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.