In a dazzling display of skill and precision, Diego Gomez stole the show by netting an astonishing four goals as Brighton dismantled Barnsley with an emphatic 6-0 victory in the EFL Cup. The Paraguay midfielder, who made headlines after his transfer from Inter Miami earlier this year, showcased his prowess by executing a breathtaking first-half hat-trick, sending the Seagulls soaring into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
Brighton wasted no time asserting their dominance, with Gomez leading the charge. Just nine minutes into the match, he struck first, capitalizing on a deflected shot by Carlos Baleba. Tom Watson laid the ball perfectly into Gomez’s path, allowing him to drill a low finish into the net, igniting the away supporters into a frenzy.
The relentless Seagulls continued to press forward, and it wasn’t long before Gomez delivered two more spectacular strikes. His second goal came in the 21st minute, a blistering shot that found the roof of the net from the right edge of the penalty area, once again assisted by Watson. Just 12 minutes later, Gomez completed his hat-trick in style, unleashing a thunderous volley from 30 yards after a headed clearance by Barnsley’s Jake Rooney fell invitingly for him. The ball arced beautifully over the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Murphy Cooper, leaving fans and players alike in awe.
Despite Barnsley’s spirited efforts to claw back into the match, including a close call with a header from captain Luca Connell and a daring 40-yard effort from Davis Keillor-Dunn that skimmed the crossbar, Brighton maintained control. The second half saw Barnsley focusing on damage limitation against a relentless Brighton side that made eight changes from their previous fixture against Tottenham.
Gomez continued to dazzle, adding his fourth goal in the 68th minute. After displaying his trademark speed and finesse, he received a perfectly timed through-ball from Danny Welbeck, coolly finishing low past Cooper. As he was substituted shortly thereafter, the Brighton faithful serenaded him off the pitch, a testament to his monumental performance.
The scoring didn’t end there. Harry Howell added the fifth goal just three minutes from the final whistle, rifling a low shot from the edge of the box that nestled into the bottom corner. Not to be outdone, Yasin Ayari capped off the rout with a powerful shot from Diego Coppola’s assist, bringing the final score to a staggering 6-0.
With this resounding victory, Brighton not only secured their place in the competition’s last 16 for the fifth time in six seasons but also sent a clear message to their opponents: they are a force to be reckoned with in this year’s EFL Cup run. The Seagulls continue to soar high, and with players like Gomez in their ranks, their ambitions for silverware have never looked brighter.
