September 28, (THEWILL) – Chelsea’s Cole Palmer etched his name in English Premier League history books on Saturday, becoming the first player to score four goals in the first half of a single match. The 22-year-old’s remarkable performance led Chelsea to a 5-2 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge, ending the Seagulls’ unbeaten start to the 2024/2025 season.
The match began with early drama as Brighton took the lead through Georginio Rutter, who capitalised on a mistake by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. However, Palmer quickly responded, netting his first goal after an error by Brighton defender Adam Webster. The young striker then converted a penalty after Jadon Sancho was fouled in the box, before completing his hat-trick with a stunning long-range free-kick.
Brighton briefly reduced the deficit when Carlos Baleba intercepted a loose pass from Sanchez and scored. However, Palmer struck again before half-time, taking advantage of another defensive lapse to restore Chelsea’s two-goal lead. The second half saw Chelsea dominate possession, with Nicolas Jackson coming close to adding to the scoresheet on several occasions.
The victory propels Chelsea to third place in the EPL table, just one point behind leaders Manchester City. For Brighton, the defeat marks the end of their unbeaten run and leaves them in eighth position. The Seagulls have now won only two of their last 16 EPL away matches.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca will be pleased with his team’s performance, particularly Palmer’s record-breaking display. The result provides a significant boost to Chelsea’s title aspirations, while Brighton will need to regroup and address their defensive issues as they look to maintain their position in the top half of the table.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
