Another disappointing day at Manchester City in 2-2 draw with Brighton
The Premier League's defending champions, Manchester City, could only muster a 2-2 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion at home on Saturday, dropping points in the latest blow to their hopes of playing European football next season.
Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush struck for Pep Guardiola's side, but Brighton equalized on a second-half own goal by City defender Abdukodir Khusanov, after Pervis Estupinan had scored the first for the visitors.
The draw, which felt like a defeat, kept City provisionally fifth in the Premier League table on 48 points after 29 games. Brighton are one point behind in seventh.
"I feel personally very disappointed," City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan said. "After getting twice in front, and actually playing quite well, it's a bit frustrating to not get the three points."
City survived an early scare when Kaoru Mitoma celebrated what he thought was a goal for Brighton, but the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) determined the ball had touched the midfielder's arm and the effort was disallowed.
Haaland struck from the penalty spot in the 11th minute for his 21st league goal of the season, sending goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen the wrong way after Marmoush was brought down by Adam Webster.
The 24-year-old Norwegian made history in the process, becoming the quickest player to reach 100 goal involvements in the Premier League with 84 goals and 16 assists in 94 matches. Alan Shearer had achieved the feat in 100 games.
Estupinan levelled 10 minutes later with his first league goal since December 2023, when he caught goalkeeper Stefan Ortega flat-footed with a brilliant free kick from 22 yards out that flew in off the post.
City reclaimed the lead through Marmoush's 39th-minute goal, with Gundogan laying the ball off for the Egyptian, who unleashed a blistering shot into the net.
Khusanov's attempt to clear Webster's header from a corner shortly after halftime pulled the Seagulls level once again. The goal was the 40th conceded by City in the league this season, their most in a single campaign under Guardiola.
Source(s): Reuters