Brighton's Diego Gomez channels Beckham with stunning halfway-line goal

Diego Gomez hit it like Beckham.

Collecting the ball near the halfway line, the Brighton midfielder advanced just inside Crystal Palace's half and launched a 50-meter shot over stranded goalkeeper Walter Benitez and into the net for a spectacular goal in the seventh minute of the Premier League match at Amex Stadium on Sunday.

The Paraguay international's shot revived memories of a strike from a similar range from David Beckham when playing for Manchester United against Wimbledon on the opening day of the 1996-97 Premier League season.

It remains one of English soccer's most famous goals and thrusted Beckham into the global spotlight.

Gomez's goal put Brighton 2-0 ahead against its biggest rival - and the team went 3-0 up three minutes later before running out a 5-0 winner.

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler said Gomez tried a similar effort in the 2-0 win at Sunderland last weekend.

"There the wind wasn't perfect for this try," Hurzeler said.

"Now the wind was better for him.

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