Manchester City have missed the opportunity to climb back into the top four of the Premier League after being held to an entertaining 2-2 draw by fellow Champions League hopefuls Brighton & Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
In what was such an open and frantic first half for both teams who looked like scoring on every attack, Erling Haaland put the Citizens in front from the penalty spot just a few minutes after Kaoru Mitoma had a goal disallowed by VAR for handball.
Haaland has broken yet another Premier League record as he has now become the fastest player in the division's history to reach 100 goal involvements (84 goals, 16 assists), doing so after just 94 games and surpassing Alan Shearer who achieved the feat in 100 matches.
Brighton responded well and equalised in exquisite fashion, as Pervis Estupinan caught out Stefan Ortega as he curled a superb free kick in off the post, but Man City regained the lead six minutes before half time courtesy of a glorious strike from Omar Marmoush on the edge of the area.
The topsy-turvy Premier League encounter showed no signs of slowing down and Brighton hit back for a second time just three minutes after the break thanks to an unfortunate own goal from Citizens defender Abdukodir Khusanov.
Yankuba Minteh came agonisingly close to stabbing home a brilliant Estupinan cross just moments later, and Mitoma tested Ortega at his near post shortly after Marmoush was denied a second by Bart Verbruggen following a superb run from Josko Gvardiol.
The thrilling contest was on a knife edge as it entered the closing stages and Man City blew a huge sigh of relief when Carlos Baleba skied a wonderful chance from around 15 yards out to put Brighton in front.
Neither side could score an all-important winner and eventually had to settle for a share of the spoils, with a draw leaving Pep Guardiola's side fifth in the table, one point and two places ahead of Fabian Hurzeler's men in seventh.
© Imago
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
Oliver Thomas live from the Etihad Stadium:
Both Man City and Brighton certainly put on a show for the supporters at the Etihad, but they will head into the international break feeling they have missed an opportunity to claim three valuable points in the race to qualify for next season's Champions League.
Despite scoring two goals each, both the Citizens and the Seagulls missed several brilliant opportunities to score more and were at times wasteful in the final third - a total of 25 shots were registered between both teams in the 90 minutes (11 from Man City, 15 from Brighton), but they could only hit three each on target.
The biggest chance missed in the second half was by Brighton's Baleba in the final 10 minutes. The Cameroonian is usually so composed on the ball, but he surprisingly blazed his first-time strike well over the crossbar, much to the disbelief of Hurzeler on the touchline.
The Seagulls could - and probably should - have won in the end, but they have nevertheless extended their unbeaten run to seven matches in all competitions (W6 D1) and can take positives - arguably more than Man City - from their performance after going toe-to-toe with one of their rivals to qualify for Europe.
Indeed, that race for a top-four, or top-five, finish remains wide open heading into the final nine games of the season, and both Man City and Brighton will back themselves to secure their spots in Europe's premier club competition, especially if points are dropped - as expected - by their rivals along the way.
MAN CITY VS. BRIGHTON HIGHLIGHTS
Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton) goal disallowed (6th min, Man City 0-0 Brighton)
© Imago
Brighton have the ball in the net through Mitoma, who bundles the ball beyond Stefan Ortega, but Simon Hooper rules it out straight away and VAR confirms no goal due to a handball from the Japanese winger.
Erling Haaland goal vs. Brighton (11th min, Man City 1-0 Brighton)
© Imago
Just a few minutes after having a goal disallowed, Brighton concede a penalty as Adam Webster slides in and clips the ankles of Omar Marmoush inside the area.
Erling Haaland steps up and makes no mistake from 12 yards, firing a low shot into the bottom-right corner and sending Bart Verbruggen the wrong way to put Man City ahead.
Pervis Estupinan goal vs. Man City (22nd min, Man City 1-1 Brighton)
© Imago
After Nico Gonzalez was adjudged to have illegally brought down Georginio Rutter on the edge of the area, Estupinan steps up and curls a superb free kick in off the post to restore parity for Brighton. Stefan Ortega is caught out and opted against diving as he was left rooted to the spot.
Omar Marmoush goal vs. Brighton (39th min, Man City 2-1 Brighton)
© Imago
Brighton lose possession on their edge of their area and Man City take advantage of it!
Ilkay Gundogan wins the ball back and quickly feeds Marmoush, who takes a touch before arrowing a powerful 25-yard strike from a central position in off the left-hand post to put the Citizens back in front.
Abdukodir Khusanov own goal vs. Man City (48th min, Man City 2-2 Brighton)
© Imago
Brighton draw themselves level once again, albeit in fortunate circumstances as Jack Hinshelwood's strike from close range - which looks to be heading wide - hits Khusanov before bouncing over the line into City's net.
MAN OF THE MATCH - OMAR MARMOUSH
© Imago
Omar Marmoush was such an influential player for Man City on the day, contributing to both of the Citizens' first-half goals, and he covered so much ground throughout the contest.
The energetic Egyptian won the penalty converted by Haaland before firing home a glorious long-range strike to put the hosts back in front, while the January signing also made two key passes and won four ground duels during an impressive display.
Jeremy Doku and Pervis Estupinan deserve special mentions, but City's No.7 just pips them on this occasion.
MAN CITY VS. BRIGHTON MATCH STATS
Possession: Man City 61%-39% Brighton
Shots: Man City 11-15 Brighton
Shots on target: Man City 3-3 Brighton
Corners: Man City 4-5 Brighton
Fouls: Man City 10-10 Brighton
BEST STATS
Fewest games needed to reach 100 Premier League goal involvements:
— Squawka (@Squawka) March 15, 2025
◉ 94 - Erling Haaland
◎ 100 - Alan Shearer
◎ 116 - Mohamed Salah
◎ 116 - Eric Cantona
We're not sure his record will ever be beaten. 👀 pic.twitter.com/H6c4vuh36p
Manchester City have now conceded 40 league goals in 2024/25, their most ever in a Premier League campaign under Pep Guardiola.
— Squawka (@Squawka) March 15, 2025
And it's only March. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/GvkmuDoBww
WHAT NEXT?
Players from both Man City and Brighton will now turn their attention to the international break before returning to their respective clubs to prepare for the FA Cup quarter-finals at the end of this month.
While the Citizens are next in action away against Bournemouth on March 30, the Seagulls will play host to Nottingham Forest a day earlier.
Oliver Thomas
