Paraguayan midfielder Diego Gomez had only scored twice for Brighton before Tuesday night
At a glance
Diego Gomez scores four Brighton goals in sensational solo display
Paraguayan midfielder nets 24-minute hat-trick - including two superb long-range drives, before a composed second-half finish
Harry Howell and Yasin Ayari complete rout late on
Minute's applause held in memory of iconic Barnsley-born cricket umpire Dickie Bird, who has died aged 92
Diego Gomez scored four goals – including an astonishing first-half hat-trick – as Brighton reached the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a thumping victory over League One Barnsley.
Paraguayan midfielder Gomez stole the show at Oakwell before half-time, giving the Seagulls an early lead with a close-range finish before completing a 24-minute treble with two remarkable long-range drives.
Gomez, who joined the club from Inter Miami last January, doubled his and Brighton's tally with a magnificent, rising shot from the corner of the penalty area – but his third was the pick of the bunch.
Jake Rooney's headed clearance fell kindly for the 22-year-old, who smashed a swerving, first-time shot past Murphy Cooper from well over 30 yards to all but end the game as a contest.
Davis Keillor-Dunn almost caught Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele off his line in the second half – his looping effort from a full 40 yards out clipping the top of the crossbar – before Jonathan Bland was denied by the frame of the goal.
But Gomez steered home a composed finish for his and Brighton's fourth of the night, before 17-year-old Harry Howell curled in his first senior goal for the Seagulls.
Second-half substitute Yasin Ayari completed the scoring two minutes later as Brighton claimed their second successive 6-0 win in the competition, after beating Oxford by the same scoreline in the previous round.
Fabian Hurzeler's side will discover their fourth-round opponents when the draw takes place following Arsenal's trip to Port Vale on Wednesday evening.
Before kick-off, a minute's applause was held in memory of iconic Barnsley-born cricket umpire Dickie Bird, who has died aged 92.
Analysis: 'Special' Gomez delivers masterclass
Not for the first time in this season's EFL Cup, Brighton made light work of lower-league opposition to progress to the next round – but this was very much Gomez's night.
The Paraguayan – one of eight changes from Saturday's 2-2 draw at home to Tottenham – has started only one of the Seagulls' five league games so far this term, but he grasped his opportunity with both hands at Oakwell.
Gomez's first and fourth efforts were smart finishes, while his second was a strike of the highest order as he lashed Tom Watson's pass beyond Cooper.
However, you will struggle to see a better goal in this season's competition than his astonishing third, which left Cooper grasping at thin air as the ball sailed over the goalkeeper's head and into the net.
Described as "special" by Hurzeler when he arrived from the MLS in January, Gomez is certainly developing a reputation for the spectacular.
Against Tottenham on the final day of last season, he opened his account for the Seagulls with a spectacular curling drive as Hurzeler's team ran out 4-1 winners.
He was also on target at Oxford in the last round, poking in Brighton's third from close range.
After his four-goal masterclass in Yorkshire, Hurzeler will be hard-pushed to leave Gomez out of his starting XI when his team travel to Chelsea this weekend.
What's next for these teams?
Barnsley: Conor Hourihane's team welcome Port Vale to Oakwell in League One on Saturday before travelling to Notts County in the EFL Trophy three days later.
Brighton: The Seagulls head to Stamford Bridge this weekend before facing Wolves at Molineux a week on Sunday.
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