Chelsea free fall continues, Eze’s double strikes lift Crystal Palace

Eberechi Eze celebrates his second goal for Crystal Palace against Southampton…yesterday Photo: BBCSports

Teenager, Julio Enciso, scored a stunning winner as Brighton came from behind to beat Chelsea in the Premier League in Frank Lampard’s first home match since being reappointed Blues manager.

Paraguayan forward Enciso, 19, blasted into the top corner from 35 yards to help Brighton continue their European qualification push. Substitute Danny Welbeck had levelled at Stamford Bridge after Conor Gallagher’s deflected strike gave Chelsea a fortunate lead.

Brighton remain seventh in the table and Chelsea 11th. Enciso became the latest Brighton youngster to the hit the headlines as their shrewd deals in the transfer window continue to aid their drive up the league table.

He joined for a reported £9.5m from Paraguayan club Libertad Asuncion in the summer and has slowly been bedded into the side. Perhaps, the biggest gainer in yesterday’s EPL matches was Nigeria-born England based Eberechi Eze, who struck twice as Crystal Palace won their third consecutive game and left wasteful Southampton rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table.

Eze was the catalyst for Palace as he scored from a rebound after Jordan Ayew’s strike was palmed into his path by home keeper Gavin Bazunu.

His second goal saw him turn away from his defender and arrow a precise finish into the bottom corner. Southampton were lively in the first half, with Kamaldeen Sulemana heading over, but were unable to make their chances count.

Just like in their 5-1 win over Leeds last weekend, Crystal Palace were off the pace in the first half. Cheick Doucoure fired over the bar after two minutes, but the away side did not have a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes.

How