Brentford turned a routine Premier League fixture into a night of thunderous drama, powered by the unstoppable Igor Thiago, who wrote his name into club history under the lights in west London.
With the score balanced on a knife-edge and tension rippling through the Gtech Community Stadium, Thiago stepped up in the 81st minute and coolly dispatched a penalty that not only put the Bees ahead — it shattered Ivan Toney’s club record, becoming the fastest Brentford player ever to reach 10 Premier League goals, hitting the milestone in only 13 matches.
But the Brazilian wasn’t finished. Just minutes after Burnley clawed themselves level from the spot, Thiago roared back with a ruthless second strike, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. And in stoppage time, Dango Ouattara added the final touch of brilliance, burying Jordan Henderson’s exquisite pass to seal a pulsating victory.
For Brentford, it was a third straight home win and a leap to eighth in the table. For Burnley, it was yet another painful chapter — eight losses in their last 11 league games leave them marooned in the bottom three.
The opening half simmered with possibility but delivered little in terms of breakthrough. Nathan Collins came closest for the hosts, darting onto a corner only to mistime the decisive touch. Burnley’s biggest threat arrived moments before the whistle, when Flemming tested Kelleher with a vicious long-range effort that the Brentford keeper clawed away with lightning reflexes.
After the restart, the drama intensified. Thiago briefly thought he had already opened his account for the night with a rocket into the top corner, only for VAR to rule Ouattara offside in the build-up.
It proved only a prelude.
Axel Tuanzebe’s misjudged challenge on Ouattara brought Brentford their penalty, confirmed after a lengthy VAR inspection. Thiago stepped forward with icy composure and rolled the ball home — a historic moment.
Yet Burnley struck back instantly. Michael Kayode’s tangle with Jaidon Anthony gifted the visitors a lifeline, and Flemming levelled with a precise penalty of his own.
What followed was pure Premier League chaos.
Rico Henry burst into the box, the ball ricocheted wildly, and Thiago — ever the predator — smashed home his second with unerring accuracy. The stadium erupted.
Then, as Burnley pushed desperately for salvation, Henderson delivered a laser-guided ball over the top. Ouattara killed it stone-dead with one touch and slotted beyond the keeper, sealing a magnificent, breathless Brentford victory.
