Haaland reaches historic milestone, but City’s defense falters
Manchester City has once again encountered difficulties in their quest to secure a Champions League spot, as they were twice pegged back by Brighton in a high-intensity clash at the Etihad Stadium.
Erling Haaland made history by becoming the fastest player to reach 100 goal involvements in the Premier League, doing so in fewer than 100 matches. The Norwegian striker found the net for the 84th time in his 94th league appearance, confidently converting an 11th-minute penalty past Brighton’s goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.
Estupinan’s brilliance and City’s defensive struggles
Brighton quickly responded with a stunning free-kick from Pervis Estupiñán, which bounced off the post and past City’s stand-in goalkeeper Stefan Ortega. The German shot-stopper, deputizing for the injured Ederson, misjudged the shot and could only watch as the ball found the net.
City regained the lead when Omar Marmoush curled a fantastic 20-yard strike into the bottom corner. However, their defensive frailties were exposed once more just minutes into the second half when Abdukodir Khusanov unintentionally diverted Jack Hinshelwood’s shot into his own net.
Guardiola furious with refereeing decisions
The match’s chaotic conclusion saw Pep Guardiola grow visibly frustrated with referee Simon Hooper. The City boss protested fiercely after challenges on Joško Gvardiol and Bernardo Silva, the latter being forced off just 18 minutes after coming on.
Guardiola’s anger reached its peak when Jeremy Doku was shown a yellow card for simulation despite his attempt to evade a tackle from Jan Paul van Hecke.
“If he doesn’t jump, he could break his leg,” Guardiola argued. “Jeremy isn’t a diving player. The officials should know that. But it is what it is. This wasn’t why we dropped points today.”
Brighton miss golden opportunity for historic victory
Despite City’s late pressure, including a Nico González effort that struck the post, it was Brighton who had the best chance to seal victory. In the dying moments, Carlos Baleba found himself unmarked 12 yards from goal but blasted his shot over the bar, wasting a perfect delivery from João Pedro.
City’s form a growing concern
With just four points from their last four matches, City’s hopes of securing a top-four finish are under increasing threat. Though their remaining fixtures include Leicester, Wolves, and Southampton, their inconsistency remains a major concern.
While Guardiola was visibly unhappy with the officiating, he must also acknowledge that Brighton matched his team and arguably deserved more from the game. City’s inability to control midfield allowed Brighton to dominate key moments, with González and İlkay Gündoğan struggling to contain the visitors’ advances.
Jeremy Doku’s performance on the left wing was disappointing, while Savinho failed to make an impact on the right, squandering a golden first-half opportunity. Meanwhile, Jack Grealish remained on the bench for the entire match, raising questions about his role in the squad, especially after being left out of England’s latest squad by Thomas Tuchel.
Diego Gómez continues Brighton’s South American success story
Brighton’s strategy of discovering hidden South American talents continues to pay off. After the successes of Moisés Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister, the Seagulls appear to have unearthed another gem in Diego Gómez.
The 21-year-old Paraguayan midfielder, who spent last year playing alongside Lionel Messi at Inter Miami, showcased his immense potential. His ability to both defend and attack was evident, notably with a perfectly timed sliding tackle on Haaland to prevent a dangerous scoring opportunity.
Gómez’s intelligent movement also created promising chances, including a cross that should have been turned in by Yankuba Minteh, which left Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler in disbelief.
By the time Gómez was substituted 15 minutes from the end, he had played a crucial role in Brighton’s impressive performance. Though they have yet to win away against City, this historic point could prove valuable in their push for a top-five finish.
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