Stefanos Tzimas came on in the second half and scored twice
At a glance
Stefanos Tzimas comes off bench to score twice on Albion debut
Tom Watson and Olivier Boscagli also bag on Brighton bows
Wasteful Oxford have 11 shots on target, to Brighton's nine
Olivier Boscagli, Stefanos Tzimas and Tom Watson all scored on their Brighton debuts as they clinically demolished Championship side Oxford United to reach the third round of the Carabao Cup.
Albion, who made 11 changes, led when defender Boscagli's shot took a huge deflection before looping over U's keeper Matt Ingram.
And Brajan Gruda doubled their lead when he received Joel Veltman's ball over the top before smashing a shot home.
Diego Gomez poked in a third from close range.
And £20m Greek teenager Tzimas slotted home after running on to Harry Howell's ball.
Howell, 17, picked out substitute Tzimas again to net Brighton's fifth.
And Watson curled a beauty into the top corner to complete the rout.
Oxford, who are yet to win in the league, were shambolic defensively – but missed several chances to score with 11 shots on target.
Maybe it could have been different if Przemyslaw Placheta had not fired straight at Jason Steele after 21 seconds – but United have nobody but themselves to blame for the nature of the defeat.
Brighton will visit Barnsley in the third round on the week of 15 or 22 September.
Analysis: Brighton players give Hurzeler food for thought
Brighton have only picked up one point from their opening two Premier League games so places in the team could well be up for grabs.
And while this was a fully changed team from their defeat by Everton, most of their XI were players who feature in the league – and then there were the youngsters who shone from the bench.
Boscagli struck the opener on his debut following his summer free transfer move from PSV Eindhoven. Gruda and Gomez have both scored for Fabian Hurzeler's team in the Premier League.
And then on came two 19-year-old signings - £20m Tzimas and £10m Watson – and £30m 18-year-old Charalampos Kostoulas.
Tzimas netted twice and set up Watson for number six.
Will some feature on Sunday against Manchester City? You have to imagine so.
Oxford have also started their league season poorly and are one of three EFL teams on zero points.
Their defending and their finishing were equally shocking here – they actually had more shots on target than Brighton managed.
Steele's 10 saves were the most any goalkeeper has had to make in a Carabao Cup tie since February 2024 - but most of those stops were routine.
What's next for these teams?
Both sides have one game left before the international break.
Oxford United: Gary Rowett's side host Coventry on Saturday, the Coventry who hit seven goals last weekend against QPR.
Brighton & Hove Albion: Albion host Manchester City on Sunday in the Premier League.
Player of the match
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