Even Erling Haaland’s 150th goal is not enough for Manchester City to win against Brighton & Hove. Haaland is partly to blame for this.
For the third time in a row, Manchester City failed to get beyond a draw in the Premier League. In the 1:1 (1:0) on matchday 21 against Brighton & Hove Albion with German coach Fabian Hürzeler, Erling Haaland once again took the lead (40th, penalty kick). But Kaoru Mitoma (60th) ensured with the equalizer that German coach Fabian Hürzeler and Brighton remain unbeaten in the fourth duel with Pep Guardiola’s Citizens.
While Brighton remains in midfield in eleventh place, City is in danger of losing touch in the championship race. Leaders Arsenal FC have the chance to extend their lead over Manchester to eight points with a win against Liverpool on Thursday evening (9 p.m.).
Pascal Groß in the starting line-up
The game started with two great chances for the guests from Brighton. The first was scored by returnee Pascal Groß with a header (2nd). The German international and former Dortmund player was in the starting line-up for the first time in his second appearance for Brighton, with Brajan Gruda having to go to the bench. Ferdi Kadioglu missed the second opportunity after a counterattack, in both cases Gianluigi Donnarumma parried.
Penalty kick after VAR intervention
Manchester then took control without shining. The fact that a penalty was necessary for the opening goal fit the picture. Jeremy Doku fell in the penalty area and referee Thomas Bramall initially allowed play to continue. Only after the video assistant intervened did he see that Brighton’s Diego Gomez had only hit Doku lightly on the knee, but that his outstretched leg was also preventing him from continuing to run.
Haaland safely scored his 150th goal for Manchester City. The fact that he only needed 173 competitive games is a unique achievement in the Premier League. He has 20 goals in 21 league games this season and is the only number one on the top scorer list.
Bernardo Silva negligent
Immediately after the break, Bernardo Silva had a great chance to make it 2-0. After a catastrophic bad pass from Yasin Ayari in his own 16, he only hit the outside post from close range.
The negligence took its revenge: Brighton & Hove, who had not been seen offensively for a long time, took advantage of the City defense’s inattention in the person of Mitoma. The Japanese had too much space in the penalty area and hit the corner through the legs of Premier League debutant Max Alleyne.
Gomez and Haaland give 100 percent
Shortly afterwards, Brighton could, and indeed should, have added more. Mitoma was free after a long ball on the left and put it in front of the goal, where Diego Gomez only had to push in from two meters. But he only hit the ball with his heel while running at full speed and clearly missed the goal.
In the final phase, only Manchester had chances, Haaland alone managed to finish four times. He should have scored at least once, namely when Ayari again played the ball into the opponent’s feet in his own penalty area. Bernardo Silva set up perfectly for Haaland; all he had to do from close range was shoot in with his strong left foot – actually a formality. But the finish was too out of place and half-hearted and Bart Verbruggen reacted outstandingly on the line (81′).
Shortly afterwards, Rayan Cherki also had the winning goal from twelve meters, but City missed this chance too.