Evan Ferguson scored a hat-trick to show his incredible potential and help Brighton set the tone for another memorable Premier League season as they outgunned Newcastle.
After overachieving last season, both sides discovered their European groups this week, and Albion look considerably better situated than the Magpies to challenge near the top this time around.
Ferguson of the Republic of Ireland pounced from close range after keeper Nick Pope mishandled Billy Gilmour’s long-range shot.
The 18-year-old curled home a 25-yard beauty to make it 2-0 and then added another via a fantastic Fabian Schar deflection for his 10th Premier League goal and first hat-trick.
He is only the fourth player in Premier League history to score a hat-trick before the age of 19, joining Chris Bart-Williams, Rob Fowler, and Michael Owen.
Newcastle’s first effort on goal came in the 87th minute, and they scored in injury time when Callum Wilson raced down a long ball and fired home. However, it was far too late to make a comeback threat.

![Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-300x200.jpg)







