Manchester City Stunned as Late Brighton Winner Hands Guardiola’s Side Second Defeat in Three Premier League Matches

Manchester City’s stuttering start to the Premier League season continued as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion at the American Express Community Stadium.

Pep Guardiola’s side looked set to respond positively to last weekend’s loss to Tottenham when Erling Haaland marked his 100th league appearance with his 88th goal in the competition, prodding home from close range in the 33rd minute after Omar Marmoush’s persistence carved open the Brighton defence.  

City dominated possession and created chances to extend their lead, with Oscar Bobb going close just after the hour mark, but their inability to kill off the game proved costly. Brighton grew in confidence and were handed a route back into the contest in the 67th minute when Matheus Nunes was penalised for handball. Former City midfielder James Milner stepped up and calmly converted the resulting penalty to level the score.  

The hosts pressed for a winner and were rewarded in the 89th minute when Brajan Gruda latched onto Kaoru Mitoma’s through ball, showed composure to round goalkeeper James Trafford and Rayan Ait-Nouri, and rolled the ball into the empty net. The result secured Brighton’s first victory of the campaign and left City with two defeats from their opening three matches, raising early questions over their title credentials.