Chelsea ace Cole Palmer completes 10-minute hat-trick with incredible free-kick as Chelsea storm to 3-1 lead after conceding first against Brighton
Chelsea superstar Cole Palmer has completed a 10-minute hat-trick with an incredible goal from a free-kick in their match against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday (September 28). The Seagulls had started off the match with a very early opener but the Blues ruthlessly overpowered them through Palmer.
Brighton scored in the seventh minute through Georginio Rutter. Carlos Baleba blocked a clearance from the Blues, inadvertently putting the ball in Rutter's path, and the 22-year-old got the ball beyond Blues goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. After this point, though, it was the Cole Palmer show.
The forward had an effort in the 19th minute that hit the post but it was a sign of things to come. The 22-year-old had another shot at goal in the 20th minute, and although he put it in the back of the net, it was ruled out for offside.
The third time, though, was truly the charm, as Palmer put the ball into the back of an empty net with 21 minutes on the clock, and this time, it counted. Just seven minutes later, a push on Jadon Sancho in the box saw Palmer take the penalty. He put the ball into the left-bottom corner, with Bart Verbruggen diving right.
The defining moment was the free-kick goal from range, with Palmer powering an absolute beauty from 30 yards. Verbruggen tried to reach it but the goalkeeper was unable to keep it from going out and the Chelsea playmaker completed his hat-trick in the 31st minute.
Brighton struggle to keep Chelsea and Cole Palmer at bay
Brighton went on to pull a goal back after a mistake from Chelsea goalkeeper Sanchez in the 34th minute, with Baleba slotting it in to make the score 3-2. However, Cole Palmer, who has somehow continued to score goals, added a fourth to his name.
A pass from Jadon Sancho put him through on goal, and the playmaker did not miss, driving his effort low into the near post in the 41st minute. With the score 4-2 in Chelsea's favor at half-time, the second half will tell if the Seagulls can fight for a comeback.
They will need to be very wary about Palmer though, with the Englishman putting on a remarkable show in front of the fans at Stamford Bridge.