Match Summary
Final Score: Brighton 2-1 Manchester City
34′ – Erling Haaland opens the scoring for City on his 100th Premier League appearance, netting his 88th league goal .
67′ – James Milner, at 39 years and 239 days old, converts a penalty to equalize, becoming the second-oldest goalscorer in Premier League history .
89′ – Brajan Gruda, introduced as a substitute, rounds City’s keeper James Trafford and slots in the winner in added time .
First Half – City’s Command, But Not Without Trouble
Manchester City had the upper hand early on — Haaland tested Brighton’s keeper Bart Verbruggen multiple times, including a tame early chance, a wide shot, and a close-range header saved . The breakthrough came in the 34th minute as Haaland latched onto a clever pass and lifted it over Verbruggen under pressure from Omar Marmoush .
City looked relatively comfortable, despite Brighton’s first-half pass completion dropping below 75%, reflecting their early lack of precision and control . Meanwhile, Brighton barely threatened up front, with Mitoma’s low strike onto the goalkeeper the only notable effort .
Tactical Turnaround: Brighton’s Substitutions Shift Momentum
Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler introduced a quadruple substitution just after the hour mark — a turning point that immediately swung momentum in Brighton’s favour .
Soon after, Brighton’s pressure yielded a penalty: Yasin Ayari’s free-kick set up a Lewis Dunk volley, which struck Matheus Nunes on the arm — Anthony England pointed to the spot. Milner stepped up and scored emphatically .
City’s rhythm unraveled post-substitutions. Rodri, making his first Premier League start after returning from ACL injury, began to fade, and the team began showing signs of disintegration in their structure and discipline .
The Decisive Moment: Gruda’s Late Finish
Brighton maintained the dominance and created further chances — including Van Hecke’s deflected shot, brilliantly saved by Trafford .
The winning moment came in the 89th minute via substitute Brajan Gruda, who latched onto a Mitoma through-ball, beat Rayan Aït-Nouri and Trafford, then calmly scored. Celebrations erupted as Brighton pulled off a stunning comeback .
Key Player Performances
Brighton
Brajan Gruda (Substitute): A standout cameo — decisive in attack and delivering the late winner .
James Milner (Substitute): His calm penalty leveled the game and his experience proved invaluable .
Kaoru Mitoma: Pivotal in attack, his vision unlocked City’s defense and set up the winner .
Manchester City
Erling Haaland: Maintained his prolific form, adding another milestone goal .
Rodri: His return was initially a boost, but his toll was felt as City began to fade .
James Trafford: Recovered from prior criticism with several important saves, but ultimately could not prevent the defeat .
Tactical & Structural Insights
Brighton’s Substitution Impact: The quadruple change reignited their campaign — overturning a deficit and transforming the game in under 30 minutes .
City’s Defensive Lapses: Post-goal, the defensive compactness faded — individual errors and an inability to adapt dismantled their structure .
Psychological Edge: Brighton’s resilience and belief, particularly after recent narrow defeats despite strong xG performances, paid off when it mattered .
Mental Fatigue for City: A second consecutive loss, combined with integration of new players and disrupted pre-season, is exposing cracks in City’s usual dominance .
Managerial Reactions
Rodri admitted their level isn’t where it needs to be, emphasizing the collective nature of improvement and the need to reset during the international break .
Analysts flagged that City, once the embodiment of control and dominance, is now exposed — tactical rigidity and overreliance on individual brilliance are being punished .
Season Implications & Looking Ahead
Manchester City: Only 3 points from 3 games, already suffering back-to-back league losses — a slow and concerning start with title fears creeping in .
Brighton: Earn their first win of the season and jump to 10th in the standings, injecting fresh belief and momentum into their campaign .
This clash demonstrates that momentum, mental agility, and tactical flexibility can overturn even the most dominant teams — a warning sign for City, and a powerful statement from Brighton.
Summary
Brighton’s thrilling 2-1 win over City was scripted by tactical boldness, substitute heroics, and mental resilience. A sluggish start was turned around by the managerial courage of Fabian Hürzeler, whose substitutions triggered a game turnaround. City, historically composed and dominant, showed vulnerability — both mentally and structurally — and were punished by a fired-up Brighton side who rediscovered their attacking rhythm.
James Milner’s experience and Brajan Gruda’s finishing sealed a statement win for Brighton, while City must regroup swiftly if they are to salvage their ambitions this season.
