Soccer-Brentford beat Luton 3-1 to surge into top half of table

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brentford v Luton Town - Brentford Community Stadium, London, Britain - December 2, 2023 Brentford's Shandon Baptiste and Neal Maupay celebrate after the match REUTERS/David Klein

LONDON (Reuters) -Brentford scored three second-half goals to move into the top half of the Premier League table - and above West London rivals Chelsea at least for a day - after beating Luton Town 3-1 at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday.

French striker Neal Maupay, on loan from Everton and back in the starting lineup, broke the ice on a freezing afternoon in the capital by sweeping home from close range in the 49th after a scuffed Ben Mee shot deflected off a defender.