08/30/26 10:06:00
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08/30 10:04 CDT Revitalized Cole Palmer scores again for Chelsea in second
straight win in Premier League
Revitalized Cole Palmer scores again for Chelsea in second straight win in
Premier League
By STEVE DOUGLAS
AP Sports Writer
Cole Palmer showed more signs of a return to his top form by completing the
scoring for Chelsea in its wild 4-3 win over Brighton in the Premier League on
Sunday.
The playmaker was a revelation in the 2023-24 season --- his first at Chelsea
--- when scoring 22 league goals but he has struggled with injuries and a loss
of form since, culminating in Palmer missing out on a place in England's World
Cup squad this summer.
In front of England coach Thomas Tuchel, Palmer ran 30 meters before curling
home a shot from the edge of the area for Chelsea's fourth goal at Stamford
Bridge to end Brighton's realistic hopes of a comeback in an end-to-end
thriller.
Romeo Lavia and Pedro Neto put Chelsea 2-0 ahead by the 14th minute before Joao
Pedro added a third in the 32nd for Xabi Alonso's team.
Malick Yalcouy pulled a goal back for Brighton just before halftime, and the
visitors further reduced the deficit when Pedro deflected a cross from Pascal
Gross into his own net in the 63rd.
Palmer's goal clinched a second straight victory for Chelsea, which opened its
league campaign by beating Fulham 3-2 on Monday. Palmer scored in that game,
too.
Brighton netted its third, through Gross, with the last kick of the game.
A negative for Chelsea was an injury to key midfielder Moises Caicedo, who
lasted just 14 minutes after his return to the team as a second-half substitute.
Emi Martinez played as goalkeeper for Chelsea hours after completing his move
from Aston Villa.
In other matches, Sunderland beat Fulham 1-0 thanks to substitute Wilson
Isidor's goal for a first win of the season and Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored
Leeds' equalizer in a 1-1 draw with Brentford.
Manchester United hosts Ipswich later, looking to rebound from an opening-round
loss to another promoted team in Hull.
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Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80
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See AP's full soccer coverage here
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