Man City 2-2 Brighton: Albion take first ever point from Etihad
The idea of the Albion being disappointed to only draw at the Etihad Stadium would have been a pretty phenomenal concept six months ago. And yet here we are. Wondering what maybe should have been following Man City 2-2 Brighton.
Victory would have taken the Seagulls above City in the Premier League standings and given a significant boost to Fabian Hurzeler’s hopes of bringing Champions League football to the Amex next season. Make that two stunning, unexpected statements in two paragraphs.
The margins towards the top of the Premier League are so tight that hopefully, Brighton are not ruing that Carlos Baleba miss with 10 minutes remaining for being the difference between playing Barcelona or Brondy in 2025-26.
Not that any Albion fan would turn their noises up at a cheeky trip to Denmark for Europa League or Conference football.
In any case, other moments like blowing two goal leads with 10 minutes remaining against Wolves and Leicester City will be seen as more season defining.
It is also quite telling that those two spectacular cock ups feel like they belong in a different campaign altogether, such has been the improvement Brighton and Hurzeler have been on in 2024-25.
Improvement enough to come from behind at a stadium where their record read played seven, lost seven, scored three, conceded 18. History made for a first point from Abu Dhabi Sportswashing HQ.
The way in which Brighton took the game to City was best summed up by Brian Horton, who managed both clubs in the 1990s. Writing on Twitter, Horton said:
“Great to see a team come to the Etihad and attack instead of putting 10 men behind the ball. Credit to Hurzeler, his staff and players for their excellent performance.”
The positive approach which drew praise from Horton saw the Albion stick the ball in the back of the net as early as the sixth minute.
Jack Hinshelwood crossed and Kaoru Mitoma converted. Somewhere in the middle, Mitoma was adjudged to have impeded City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega.
A terrible decision the likes of the European Super League Elite Six are having to rely on to cling onto their monopoly at the top of the table this season ahead of challengers like the Albion, Nottingham Forest and Plucky Little Bournemouth.
City doubly benefitted from the terrible piece of officiating when instead of being 1-0 behind, they went 1-0 ahead minutes later.
Joao Pedro was cheap in possession, the hosts broke and Adam Webster brought down Omar Marmoush. There could be few complaints over the decision to award a penalty.
Erling Haaland did the rest from 12 yards, becoming the quickest player to 100 Premier League goal involvements since Sky Sports invented football in 1992. It feels like at least 23 of them have come against Brighton.
Earlier in the season and conceding one goal would quickly lead to the Albion shipping another. And maybe another. And another if Cole Palmer was involved.
Not anymore. 12 minutes later and Brighton levelled the tie. Pervis Estupinan delivered that rarest of sights – an Albion player scoring direct from a free kick.
It was a magnificent strike too. Estupinan leaving Ortega rooted to the spot as the set piece crashed off the post and in.
City retook the lead when Brighton again lost the ball seven minutes before the break. Georginio Rutter was the guilty party this time. Marmoush the City player punishing the error.
Pedro clipped the post on the stroke of half time. The Albion did not have to wait long after the interval for an equaliser, as within eight minutes of the restart they were level.
Estupinan must have had some sort of set piece taken potion laced into his cornflakes. His corner was headed down by Webster.
Jack Hinshelwood reacted quickest and his shot deflected in off Abdukodir Khusanov for an own goal, making it Man City 2-2 Brighton.
Mitoma and Nico Gonzalez joined Pedro in hitting the post as both sides sought a winner. City enjoyed arguably their best spell leading up to the 80th minute, when that glorious chance arrived for Baleba.
Substitute Danny Welbeck and Pedro combined to tee up Baleba unmarked from 12 yards out. The midfielder could only send his effort into orbit, the ball being last seen hurtling towards the Arndale Centre.
Gary Lineker said on Match of the Day that Baleba was done by a bobble. A poor excuse as the miss would have looked bad even playing on Mile Oak’s pitch in Southern Combination Division One; let alone the home of the champions.
Consequently, the spoils were shared. A point from City leaving Brighton fans wondering what might have been? These a weird yet wonderful times to support the Albion.
