Teenager Evan Ferguson scored a hat-trick to demonstrate his remarkable potential and help Brighton lay down a marker for another special Premier League season as they outgunned Newcastle.
Both sides discovered their European groups this week after overachieving last term - and Albion look far better placed than the Magpies to challenge near the top this time round.
Republic of Ireland striker Ferguson pounced from close range after goalkeeper Nick Pope had spilled Billy Gilmour's long-range effort.
The 18-year-old curled home a beauty from 25 yards to make it 2-0 - and then hit another, via a huge Fabian Schar deflection, for his 10th Premier League goal and his first hat-trick.