Brighton & Hove Albion produced a spirited performance to earn a 1-1 draw against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, continuing the hosts’ disappointing run of form. City have now drawn three consecutive Premier League matches and sit five points behind leaders Arsenal, who have 48 points ahead of their clash with Liverpool.
Manchester City took the lead four minutes before halftime through Erling Haaland, who converted a penalty after Jeremy Doku was fouled by Diego Gomez. Following a VAR review that upheld the referee’s decision, Haaland stepped up confidently to score his 150th goal for the club and his 20th in the Premier League this season, ending a three-match goal drought.
The second half began with City pushing for a crucial second goal, and Bernardo Silva came close when his shot following a Brighton error struck the post. The match saw a controversial moment when goalkeepers Gianluigi Donnarumma and Maxim De Cuyper were involved in an altercation, resulting in both players receiving yellow cards.
Brighton equalised on the hour mark through the impressive Kaoru Mitoma, who demonstrated excellent composure to guide a low shot into the bottom corner from just outside the box. The Japanese winger received a pass from the flank and calmly slotted home to spark Brighton into life.
After equalising, Brighton seized control and nearly claimed a remarkable victory when Mitoma’s effort from a tight angle struck the post following a scramble in the penalty area. In the dying minutes, Haaland had a golden opportunity to win the match for City, but Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen produced a superb save to deny him and secure a valuable point for the Seagulls.