Gruda Fires Late Winner In Brighton’s Comeback Win Over Manchester City

When a squad loses nan aura of champions, it tin spell absolutely.

Opponents abruptly look astatine them and wonderment what connected world erstwhile seemed truthful intimidating, really connected world a bunch of players successful these shirts, could look truthful unbeatable. At half-time, Manchester City led, and seemed comfortable successful their lead against opponents who had ne'er sewage going. By nan clip Brajan Gruda calmly rounded James Trafford and dumped Rayan Aït-Nouri connected his backside earlier rolling into an quiet net, a Brighton victor had travel to look almost overdue.

Seconds earlier Trafford had made a singular save, stretching backmost and to his near to claw distant a deflected Jan Paul van Hecke shot.

Fabian Hürzeler, nan Brighton manager, must return in installments for a quadruple substation connected nan hr that transformed nan game, but conscionable arsenic striking was really susceptible City became to balls played successful down their protect line. The building that erstwhile gave them a stifling power has vanished almost entirely.

The consciousness for Brighton had been of performances having been alternatively amended than results. Although they conceded an injury-time equaliser astatine location against Fulham and past mislaid astatine Everton, wherever they missed a punishment and doubly deed nan woodwork, they person won nan xG convincingly successful some games. While Brighton hit City astatine location past season, it was ever apt that this would beryllium a trickier day – and yet Tottenham had shown past week really this City tin been pressured, thing Brighton ne'er managed successful nan first hour.

Indeed successful nan first half, they were undermined by a deficiency of precision and decisiveness, a laxity that disappointment location fans. A walk completion complaint of nether 75% earlier half-time told its ain story. City weren’t astatine thing for illustration their fluent best, which is possibly nary existent astonishment fixed nan number of players they are trying to integrate, and nan disruption to their pre-season caused by information connected nan Club World Cup. Even nan return of Rodri for his first Premier League commencement since he damaged his knee against Arsenal past September couldn’t supply a consciousness of nan aged calm.

Erling Haaland successful despair aft nan last whistle. Photograph: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Although location were immoderate signs of astatine slightest immoderate of nan acquainted City hit returning, this remains a broadside much limited connected individuals for attacking penetration than nan stereotype of a Pep Guardiola side.

Erling Haaland, arsenic ever, was nan awesome threat. After scuffing 1 early chance, he had dragged different effort conscionable wide and past headed consecutive astatine Bart Verbruggen from adjacent scope when, presented pinch an opportunity pursuing Omar Marmoush’s run, he dinked nan shot neatly complete nan goalkeeper. Brighton, perhaps, will consciousness they should person cleared, Marmoush someway bundling done a situation from
Van Hecke earlier dabbing a walk betwixt Lewis Dunk’s legs.

But possibly because of that individualism, City are susceptible to counterattacks, successful nan measurement that Guardiola teams playing beneath their champion often are. Long earlier Gruda’s winner, Trafford had had to make a bully saves to support retired Kauro Mitoma successful nan first half and Yakuba Minteh successful nan second, while Diego Gómez squandered a akin opportunity by manhandling Abdukodir Khusanov.

Minteh’s chance, successful particular, seemed to unsettle City and it was soon aft that, aft nan needless concession of a free-kick connected nan correct by Khusanov, Dunk’s volley smacked into Matheus Nunes’s upraised arm. James Milner, six years aft he past scored a penalty, converted against his erstwhile nine to go nan 2nd oldest (behind Teddy Sheringham), arsenic good arsenic nan 2nd youngest (behind James Vaughan), scorer successful Premier League history.

What was baffling past was conscionable really incapable City seemed of stopping nan Brighton flow. Trafford made prevention aft prevention before, successful nan 89th minute, different turnover led to a 4 connected 3 break. Mitoma picked his walk pinch emblematic composure and Gruda, presented pinch yet different one-on-one, almost casually converted and City, somehow, had mislaid a crippled they seemed to person nether power pinch half an hr to go.