Soccer

TOMAS SOUCEK struck to take the heat off Julen Lopetegui.But only after the Spaniard became the latest victim of Brentford’s remarkable first minute scoring streak.Bryan Mbeumo broke the deadlock just 39 seconds into the matchCredit: AlamyIt is the third successive Premier League game in which Brentford have scored in the first minuteCredit: AFPTomas Soucek’s scrappy equaliser earned West Ham a pointCredit: ReutersWest Ham celebrated a much-needed point but their winless run has extended to five gamesCredit: ReutersSoucek’s second half finish, forcing past Mark Flekken from close range, earned West Ham a deserved point as they recovered from being stung by Bryan Mbeumo’s fifth of the season as the Bees set a new Prem fast-start record.They are the first team to score in the opening 60 seconds of three successive games.It will have been a relief for Lopetegui, too, after his nightmare week looked set to be extended and he also lost Mohammed Kudus at the interval.Yet while West Ham went back across the capital with a point that ensures the growing pressure on Lopetegui has abated, this was a deeply unsatisfying afternoon in pretty much every other way.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLWithout question, the best moment came right at the start.Lopetegui can hardly claim he was not prepared, although Thomas Frank should bottle and sell whatever he says to sting his Bees into gear before kick-off.After scoring inside the first half minute at both Manchester City and Spurs – going on to lose both after trailing at the break – they were again in front before many had taken their seats.This time it took just 39 seconds for Mbeumo’s left-footed volley from 12 yards to find the top corner, a terrific hooked finish with the ball behind him and giving the fully-extended Alphonse Areola no chance.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSMbeumo has now scored in the first minute in back-to-back Premier League gamesCredit: RexBut fingers would have been pointed once again, after West Ham failed to deal with Kevin Schade’s cross – the German was onside because of the VAR “tolerance” zone – and Fabio Carvalho reacted quicker than Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jarrod Bowen to nod back into the middle.Mbeumo’s reaction, though, was outstanding. He is a class act.Never before has a Prem side scored so quickly in three straight matches.Fans in hysterics as they spot Cole Palmer’s gesture before West Ham clash as they say Chelsea star ‘didn’t even care’ And, of course, never before has a side scored inside the first minute of three straight games and won nine of them.Yet after such a dramatic start, much of what followed was an anticlimax.Lucas Paqueta was particularly quiet, with only Kudus and Bowen offering any real threat despite West Ham.When they did get close enough, Kudus fired at Flekken before Mikhail Antonio dragged a shot wide from 16 yards after Bowen tricked his way into the danger zone.Brentford were happy to sit deep and then counter, frequently through Mbeumo, who took one in the head from Wan-Bissaka after he had directed his effort over the top.Kudus’ failure to reappear after the break – with Carlos Soler on as Konstantinos Mavropanos also replaced Emerson – might have added to the discontent of the Hammers fans.Instead, West Ham were galvanised.Wan-Bissaka switched to the left, with the defender almost getting in after a strong run opened the way towards the Brentford goal as Lopetegui’s side called the shots.And within 10 minutes of the restart, any doubts would have disappeared as the visitors levelled.Paqueta fed in and Bowen and Soucek played some delightful one-touch stuff before Antonio chested down and shot.His effort was half-blocked but that served to tee up Soucek, sweeping home from five yards as he was being pulled to the ground.Substitute Yehor Yarmoliuk, on for Schade, tested Areola from the edge of the box with his first touch as Brentford looked to respond.READ MORE SUN STORIESYet that was as good as it got, the game drifting into an eminently forgettable phase in which neither team had either the imagination or the desire to get the winner.Keane Lewis-Potter’s late shot, gathered easily by Areola, summed it up. A point each. And not much else. More

FOUR Chelsea stars who previously played for Brighton combined to gift the Seagulls the opening goal at Stamford Bridge.Cole Palmer stole the show with a four-goal haul in the first-half to blow away Fabian Hurzeler’s side.Moises Caicedo and Levi Colwill made a mess of things in their own penalty areaRobert Sanchez and Marc Cucurella failed to deal with the ball looping up in the airCredit: XGeorginio Rutter climbed to head the ball into an empty net and give Brighton the leadCredit: XBut before the England international took centre stage, the visitors broke the deadlock in the seventh minute following a calamitous mix-up from a quartet of their former players.A tame cut-back was not dealt with by Moises Caicedo as he dithered and laid the ball off to Levi Colwill inside the six-yard box.Colwill’s poor clearance was charged down and the ball ballooned up in the air.Marc Cucurella and keeper Robert Sanchez then both attempted to get to it first, but Georginio Rutter climbed highest to nod into an empty net.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe disastrous defending was damning enough for Chelsea, but it was made worse given it was against Brighton.That is because Caicedo, Colwill, Cucurella and Sanchez all previously played for the South Coast side.In total, Brighton received £202million from Chelsea for Caicedo [£115m], Cucurella [£62m] and Sanchez [£25m].Colwill also played for them on loan from Chelsea, before returning to Stamford Bridge.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSReacting to the goal, one Brighton fan said: “Wow. Caicedo, Colwill and Sanchez combining to great effect 🔥🔥.”Another added: “Caicedo, Colwill, Cucarella, and Sanchez making mistakes. The perfect goal.”Enzo Maresca opens door for £200,000-a-week Chelsea outcast to return to fold and says ‘we all make mistakes’ A third replied: “Someone put the clown music over this hahaha.”While a fourth responded: “All four ex-Seagulls combining to give us that one 😂.” More

MANCHESTER CITY fans are resorting to conspiracy theories after Phil Foden’s latest snub.Last season’s PFA Player of the Year was again just a sub in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Newcastle.Pep Guardiola only used Phil Foden as a sub again vs NewcastleCredit: AFPThree of the England winger’s six Premier League appearances this term have now come off the bench.Foden came on midway through the second period at St. James Park, with both sides looking hungry to bag a winner.The 41-cap star saw plenty of the ball – with ALL his touches being in the Newcastle half.But City had to settle for a point – their second Prem stalemate in a  row after opening the campaign with four victories.READ MORE TOP STORIESJosko Gvardiol fired a neat opener for Pep Guardiola’s men on 35 minutes.But Anthony Gordon won and converted the Magpies’ point-saver soon after the break.City were already reeling from confirmation that star anchorman Rodri will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.And many fans reckon there’s much more to the matter than just form or tactics.Most read in FootballFoden came on for the third time this season at St. James ParkFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThere’s even a growing belief that boss Guardiola has a mystery problem with the 24-year-old.One supporter posted: “Something is really going on at City, because I still don’t understand why Foden isn’t starting. I don’t understand.”Rodri officially out for season after undergoing surgery in devastating blow for Man City star Foden had plenty of the ball in attacking positions after coming onAnother wrote: “There is something going on between Phil Foden and Pep Guardiola that we don’t know about. From winning Premier League Player of the Year to rotting on the City bench.”A third said: “Why isn’t Foden starting? I don’t know what is going on with him and Pep but he must have done something.”A fourth even suggested Foden was gradually getting starved of action like Riyad Mahrez – before the Algerian playmaker left for Saudi club Al-Ahli in July 2023.That supporter pondered: “Foden’s getting the Mahrez treatment now? What’s going on?” Another posted: “Some weirdness going on with Foden. Not right. Either p**** Pep off or he is in trouble himself.”Overall, “What’s going on?” was the dominant refrain from City followers.And maybe only Guardiola knows the full answer to that – unless you believe some of the conspiracy theorists… More

COLE PALMER sealed a ten-minute hat-trick with a stunning free-kick and grabbed a fourth BEFORE half-time as Chelsea claimed a 4-2 win over Brighton.The Blues superstar, 22, hit the net in the 21st, 28th, 31st and 41st minutes in a bonkers first half at Stamford Bridge.Cole Palmer was all smiles as he scored four in the first half against BrightonCredit: ReutersPalmer curled in a special free-kick to complete the hat-trickCredit: GettyPalmer made no mistake from the penalty spotCredit: GettyHe was in red-hot form at Stamford BridgeCredit: PAAnd that saw him become the first player to score four goals in the first half of a Premier League match ever. Brighton had taken an early lead through Georginio Rutter but Palmer levelled things up with a superb low finish after capitalising on a very high line from the Seagulls.Seven minutes later, he had his second when he coolly slotted home a penalty won by Jadon Sancho – sending Bart Verbruggen the wrong way.And he sealed the treble in style. READ MORE ON FOOTBALLPalmer stepped up and curled a gorgeous free-kick from 25 yards into the top corner.Verbruggen got a fingernail to the ball but could not keep it out as Palmer wheeled away to celebrate in trademark fashion. Brighton did pull one back through Carlos Baleba. Palmer then grabbed Chelsea’s fourth of a sensational first half when Sancho won the ball high up and put it on a plate for his team-mate to find the net once again.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSBart Verbruggen could not keep out the free-kickCredit: ReutersIncredibly he had another ruled out for offside and also hit the postCredit: EPAThat made it four goals in 20 staggering minutes – and that is how the game remained after a goalless second period.Incredibly, Palmer could have SIX in the first half.Enzo Maresca opens door for £200,000-a-week Chelsea outcast to return to fold and says ‘we all make mistakes’ Just before his equaliser, the ex-Manchester City man struck the post and then a minute later fired past Verbruggen but it was chalked off for offside by VAR.In another freak twist, Palmer has now scored four goals in the Premier League more times than he has settled for three.He snatched a dramatic hat-trick to complete an outrageous 4-3 turnaround victory against Manchester United on April 4.Just 11 days later, he banged in four as Chelsea tore Everton apart.But his quadruple against Brighton prompted waves of comments from fans hailing his heroics.One said: “This record will stand for years to come by Cole Palmer.”Another wrote: “Best player in the league bar none.”READ MORE SUN STORIESA third added: “He’s currently the best player in the Premier League. What a player.”And a final user challenged him to become the first man to score six in a Premier League game: “First ever double hat-trick today?” More