Brighton produced a stirring late comeback to stun Manchester City with a 2-1 victory at the Amex Stadium, sealing the points through a composed finish from Brajan Gruda.
City had looked in control at half-time, leading against opponents who struggled for rhythm and precision in the opening period. Their pass completion rate of under 75% told the story of Brighton’s early frustrations, while City, though far from fluent, appeared comfortable. Erling Haaland carried the main threat, scuffing one chance, dragging another wide, and forcing Bart Verbruggen into a save with a close-range header. The breakthrough came when Omar Marmoush bundled past a challenge and slipped the ball through for Haaland, who nudged City into the lead.
Brighton, however, grew stronger as the match wore on. Manager Fabian Hürzeler’s quadruple substitution on the hour mark injected energy and belief, swinging momentum firmly their way. From that point, City looked increasingly vulnerable to balls played in behind their defensive line, especially after the withdrawal of Bernardo Silva.
The turning point arrived when Lewis Dunk’s volley struck the arm of Matheus Nunes, conceding a penalty. James Milner, six years after his last Premier League goal and fittingly against his former club, calmly converted to equalise. The goal galvanised Brighton, and from then on the pressure on City was relentless.
James Trafford pulled off several vital saves to deny Kauro Mitoma, Yakuba Minteh, and Jan Paul van Hecke, but the breakthrough always seemed imminent. Finally, in the 89th minute, Brighton’s persistence was rewarded. A turnover in midfield launched a rapid four-on-three break, Mitoma selecting the perfect pass for Gruda. The young forward rounded Trafford, left Rayan Aït-Nouri sprawling, and rolled the ball into an empty net to seal a famous victory.
For City, the defeat underlined growing concerns about their lack of control and cohesion. The once suffocating structure that defined their dominance has evaporated, leaving spaces for opponents to exploit. While they can still hurt teams with moments of individual brilliance, they no longer carry the aura of champions.
Brighton’s win, meanwhile, was a vindication of their performances this season, often stronger than results suggested. It may prove a turning point as they seek to climb the table with renewed confidence.
