Manchester City’s blip turned into a crisis as Brighton scored twice in five minutes late on to beat the champions 2-1 – and inflict a fourth straight defeat for just the second time in Pep Guardiola’s career.
City came into the game on the back of three successive defeats to Bournemouth, Tottenham and Sporting – but their woes looked to be easing as the champions led with 12 minutes to go through Erling Haaland’s first-half strike.
But recently-injured duo Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley – the latter on his delayed Premier League debut after an ankle problem stuttered his summer move from Celtic – stepped off the bench to send the Amex Stadium into raptures – not only costing City points in the title race, but taking Fabian Hurzeler’s side into the top four, for a few hours at least.
After dominating the early stages and taking the lead when Haaland burst through and poked past Bart Verbruggen at the second attempt, City stepped off the gas following the 30th minute, which allowed Brighton back into the game.
The Seagulls missed six big chances in the second period – amassing to 1.43 of Expected Goals – as Guardiola’s side got lucky while on the ropes.
Ederson was forced into a good save from Jack Hinshelwood’s header, while he also snuffed a one-on-one chance for Kaoru Mitoma. Georginio Rutter headed over a good chance, while his replacement Pedro dragged wide after being played through over the top.
But Brighton’s pressure eventually told as Danny Welbeck trapped a cross from the left, causing a goalmouth scramble. Pedro showed more initiative than the City defenders to slam home from close range.
The Brighton goalscorer then turned provider five minutes later as he laid on the ball for the onrushing O’Riley, who blasted home while one-on-one.
Guardiola could only rock back in his chair as the result moved away from City. The champions had brought on Kevin De Bruyne before Brighton’s two goals and the Belgian, clearly not match fit, curled just wide of the post late on.
His fellow substitute Bernardo Silva dragged another effort wide of the far post, while Josko Gvardiol headed wide late on as Brighton held on during nine minutes of stoppage time.
WHAT A COMEBACK! Brighton’s two goals in five minutes
‘One of the worst Guardiola performances’
Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp:
“Four bad results, the second half, that is one of the worst halves of football I have seen from a Pep Guardiola side, they were abject, they did not defend, or win individual battles or pass the ball forward at times.
“First half they were excellent, the problem was they should have been 3-0 up, but second half when Hurzeler made the changes, there was only one team in it.
“And once the game started to run away from you, then you are looking at characters, who is going to make that challenge and win that ball when you need it most? Who is going to make this team calm? There was no one to do it.
“They looked like a bunch of strangers and the goals they conceded summed it up, they were really poor goals from Man City’s point of view.
“But full credit to Brighton.”
More to follow.
