Brighton Brighton & Hove Albion
3-0
Crystal Palace

López (45'), Ulloa (43', 50')

FT(HT: 2-0)

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Brighton & Hove Albion smash Crystal Palace

By Robert Summerscales, Reporter | 17 March 2013

Crystal Palace miss the chance to climb into the automatic playoff places, as they lose 3-0 to Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium.

Crystal Palace missed the chance to climb into the automatic playoff places as they were emphatically beaten 3-0 by Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium this afternoon.

Leonardo Ulloa grabbed a brace, either side of a superb David Lopez free kick.

Ulloa, who has now scored eight goals in 11 English games, broke the deadlock on 43 minutes, when he headed home from close range after a brilliant jinking run and cross from the right by William Buckley.

Brighton's Leonardo Ulloa leaps to score his side's first goal in their clash with Crystal Palace on March 17, 2013 © PA Photos

Buckley was at the centre of the action again moments later, as the former Watford winger was chopped down just outside the penalty area by Kagisho Dikgacoi.

Dikgacoi was issued with a yellow card, but he was then punished further as Lopez curled the resultant dead ball into the back of the net via the underside of the crossbar.

Brighton's David Lopez celebrates scoring his sides second goal in their Championship clash with Crystal Palace on March 17, 2013 © Gareth Fuller / PA Photos