City held to a 2-2 draw by Seagulls

Manchester City drew 2-2 with Brighton & Hove Albion on this afternoon. This result hurt their chances of European football next season.

Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush scored for City, but Brighton equalised with an own goal by City defender Abdukodir Khusanov after Pervis Estupiñán had scored for Brighton. This draw leaves City in fifth place with 48 points from 29 games, while Brighton remained in seventh, just one point behind.

“I feel personally very disappointed,” City midfielder Ilkay Gündogan said. “After getting twice in front and actually playing quite well. It’s a bit frustrating to not get the three points.”

City avoided an early setback when Kaoru Mitoma had a goal disallowed by VAR because the ball had touched his arm. “When you come to Man City, it’s a tough place to come,” Brighton midfielder Jack Hinshelwood said. “They’ve not been their best this season, but it is still a hard place to come. The run we’re on, we’ve gone into every game believing we can beat anybody.”

The draw ended Brighton’s four-game league winning run. Haaland scored a penalty in the 11th minute, bringing his total to 21 league goals this season. Presently, Haaland is the fastest player to reach 100 goal involvements in the Premier League, doing it in 94 matches. Alan Shearer had done it in 100 games.

Estupiñán equalised 10 minutes later with a free kick from 22 yards out, scoring his first league goal since December 2023. The shot caught goalkeeper Stefan Ortega off guard and went in off the post.

City regained the lead with Marmoush’s goal in the 39th minute. Ilkay Gundogan set him up, and Marmoush hit a powerful shot into the net. Khusanov’s attempt to clear a corner led to another goal for Brighton shortly after halftime. This goal was the 40th conceded by City in the league this season, their highest under Guardiola.

“It was a good game, a tight game,” Guardiola told the BBC. “I know how difficult it is to make the process which we’re in now. The players gave everything, we take the point and keep on going. Of course, I have confidence and I always have.”

In the closing minutes, both teams had near-misses. City’s Nico Gonzalez hit the post with a header, and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba missed a simple chance by shooting over the crossbar.