Brighton hold City to third straight draw as title race takes another twist | OneFootball

Manchester City missed another opportunity to keep pace at the top of the Premier League after being held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton at the Etihad Stadium.

City took the lead through Erling Braut Haaland, but once again failed to turn control and chance creation into a decisive result.

With several senior defenders unavailable, Guardiola named a patched-up back line that looked vulnerable whenever Brighton broke through City’s press.

The hosts dominated possession early on but struggled to find fluency against a Brighton side content to sit deep and wait for openings.

Jeremy Doku was City’s most consistent outlet, driving at defenders and forcing Brighton into rushed challenges in wide areas.

That pressure eventually told when Doku was tripped in the box, allowing Haaland to step up and convert the resulting penalty just before the interval.

The goal settled City briefly, but it did not bring the control or authority Guardiola would have wanted.

Bernardo Silva went close to extending the lead early in the second half when he clipped the outside of the post from close range.

Haaland also had chances to make the game safe, including a header cleared off the line and a late opening inside the penalty area.

City’s inability to capitalise left the door open for Brighton, who grew in confidence as the game wore on.

That confidence was rewarded when Kaoru Mitoma was afforded too much space on the edge of the box and curled a composed finish past Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The equaliser shifted the balance of the contest and exposed City’s growing fragility.

Brighton almost completed the turnaround soon after, with Mitoma again involved as Diego Gomez missed a close-range opportunity that should have resulted in a second goal.

Guardiola responded by sending on his remaining senior substitutes in search of fresh energy and a late winner.

City pushed forward with urgency but lacked clarity in the final third, often snatching at chances in promising positions.

Brighton remained dangerous on the counter-attack and looked comfortable defending deeper as the match entered its final stages.

The final whistle was met with visible frustration from the home crowd as another lead slipped away.