Fran Kirby joined Brighton in the summer after nine years at Chelsea
Brighton continued their impressive start to the Women's Super League season with a hard-fought win over Crystal Palace thanks to Bruna Vilamala's first-half finish.
The on-loan Barcelona forward toe poked the ball into an open goal after home keeper Shae Yanez thought she had been fouled after colliding with Brighton striker Nikita Parris following a lofted ball into the box.
Fran Kirby came close to doubling the Seagulls' lead after she charged into the box, but her left-foot strike was palmed behind.
Three minutes into the second half, American Yanez was called into action again to claw away Vicky Losada's audacious chipped effort.
Substitute Michelle Agyemang came within inches of a goal too, but her 89th-minute effort was blasted over the crossbar.
Annabel Blanchard thought she had levelled for Laura Kaminski's side in stoppage time after she expertly worked space for a left foot drive, but visiting keeper Sophie Baggaley somehow tipped the ball over.
Brighton, who have three wins from their first four WSL games, will next host Manchester United on Saturday, October 19 while Palace travel to Liverpool a day later.
Defensive steel highlights Seagulls improvement
Four games have now been completed in the WSL for the majority of the teams and Brighton are level on points with champions Chelsea and Manchester United.
Only Manchester City have come away with three points against the Seagulls so far following a narrow 1-0 win at the Joie Stadium.
Incredibly, Brighton only need two more victories to equal the five they managed last season. That is what you call improvement.
Dario Vidosic's side brilliantly put four past Everton and Aston Villa before showing their grit and determination against Palace in what was a below-par performance at the VBS Community Stadium.
The hosts, buoyed by their first ever WSL win last weekend at Leicester City, pushed forward at every opportunity, but the Brighton backline stood firm.
With the signings of forwards Kirby and Parris, it was clear Brighton would have flair in attack this season, but as they failed to perform at their free-flowing best here, Vidosic will have been pleased to see a display of defensive steel to claim victory.
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