Abdukodir Khusanov’s 48th-minute own goal ensured Manchester City missed the chance to leapfrog Chelsea and enter the Premier League top four as Brighton & Hove Albion earned their first ever point at the Etihad Stadium.
New centre-back signing Khusanov turned in Jack Hinshelwood’s close-range shot as Albion extended their unbeaten run to seven matches in all competitions, having won their previous six.
Erling Haaland’s 11th-minute penalty put City ahead, but Pervis Estupinan’s sweet free-kick via a post drew the Seagulls level 10 minutes later.
A precise and venomous strike by Omar Marmoush restored City’s lead six minutes before the break and, after Brighton equalised, Nico Gonzalez sent a header against a post for the reigning champions and Carlos Baleba missed a glorious opportunity to give the visitors a first ever away win in the fixture.
🔵 94 matches
🎯 84 goals
🤝 16 assistsErling Haaland is the fastest player to 100 Premier League goal involvements 🥇#MCIBHA
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 15, 2025
Man City v Brighton: Haaland goal opens scoring
Knowing they would overtake City and move fifth with victory, Brighton had the ball in the net through in-form Kaoru Mitoma’s close-range finish within six minutes, only for the goal to be ruled out for a foul on goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, who started because Ederson is not fully fit.
A Video Assistant Referee check was carried out on Mitoma’s effort, but there was less doubt over the decision that gave Haaland his chance to put the Cityzens ahead.
After Haaland released Omar Marmoush inside the penalty area on the right, visiting centre-back and captain Adam Webster leapt in with a rash challenge to bring down the Egypt forward.
A HUGE chance for Brighton 🫨
Carlos Baleba misses a golden opportunity to put the visitors 3-2 up late in the match#MCIBHA pic.twitter.com/Huo3ipPnFU
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 15, 2025
City v Brighton: Baleba misses as hosts hold on
Guardiola made four changes to his starting side, bringing in Rico Lewis at full-back and midfielder Ilkay Gundogan alongside Ortega and Marmoush.
Albion manager Fabian Hurzeler made one change from his starting side in the 2-1 home win over Fulham last Saturday, replacing Yasin Ayari with new signing Diego Gomez in midfield.
The result was a performance that ended with Brighton more than a goal up on City in expected goals from open play, although impressive 21-year-old midfielder Baleba will not want to look back on his shot over the bar from a Joao Pedro cross with the goal gaping.
How fun was that?!@ManCity and @OfficialBHAFC share the points at Etihad Stadium 🤝#MCIBHA pic.twitter.com/XH5Bxb6VYS
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 15, 2025
City are next in action when they visit Bournemouth in the FA Cup quarter-finals on March 30 (4.30pm GMT), a day after Brighton host Nottingham Forest in their last-eight tie (12.30pm).
Fourth-placed Chelsea are a point above the Cityzens before they visit Arsenal on Sunday (1.30pm), while seventh-placed Brighton will drop a place if Bournemouth win at home to Brentford on Saturday (5.30pm).
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