Everton scores after 34 seconds, stuns Brighton 5-1 in EPL

© Provided by The Associated Press – Sports Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure scores his side’s second goal of the game, during the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton & Hove and Everton, at the AMEX, in Brighton, England, Monday May 8, 2023. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

BRIGHTON, England (AP) — Everton scored after 34 seconds on its way to a surprising 5-1 win at Europe-chasing Brighton that lifted the team out of the English Premier League relegation zone on Monday.

Abdoulaye Doucoure converted the 10th first-minute goal in the league this season and volleyed home a second in the 29th to give Everton a dream start at Amex Stadium.

It got even better for the visitors when a cross from Dwight McNeil, who set up Doucoure’s second goal, deflected in off the heel of Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele for an own-goal in the 35th.

McNeil got his goal in the 76th when he dribbled around Steele at the end of a length-of-the-field counterattack as Everton powered into a scarcely believable four-goal lead against a team that started the game with an outside shot at Champions League qualification.

Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister grabbed a 79th-minute consolation for Brighton, which stayed in seventh place and eight points off the top four with a game in hand. There was still time for another goal by McNeil — a rising shot inside the near post in stoppage time that capped a brilliant performance from the winger.

© Provided by The Associated Press – Sports Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin celebrates after Abdoulaye Doucoure scores his side’s first goal, during the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton & Hove and Everton, at the AMEX, in Brighton, England, Monday May 8, 2023. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

After beginning the day in next-to-last place, Everton will finish it two points above the relegation zone and with renewed hope of extending its 69-year stay in England’s top division, with games still to come against Manchester City, Wolverhampton and Bournemouth to close the season.

© Provided by The Associated Press – Sports Everton’s Dwight McNeil celebrates after Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper Jason Steele scores an own goal, during the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton & Hove and Everton, at the AMEX, in Brighton, England, Monday May 8, 2023. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

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© Provided by The Associated Press – Sports Brighton’s goalkeeper Jason Steele scores an own goal, during the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton & Hove and Everton, at the AMEX, in Brighton, England, Monday May 8, 2023. (Adam Davy/PA via AP) © Provided by The Associated Press – Sports Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma, left and Everton’s Nathan Patterson battle for the ball, during the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton & Hove and Everton, at the AMEX, in Brighton, England, Monday May 8, 2023. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)