Second-half goals see City beaten at Brighton

In partnership with

Manchester City F.C.

·31 August 2025

Second-half goals see City beaten at Brighton

City were beaten 2-1 by Brighton as two second-half goals saw the Seagulls overturn Erling Haaland’s opener.

The City striker had fired the Blues into a first-half lead on his 100th Premier League appearance with an instant finish in the 34th minute.

OneFootball Videos

But James Milner equalised after the break from the penalty spot before Brajan Gruda’s 89th-minute winner turned the game around.

The match saw Rodri start his first Premier League match since September 2024 following a long-term knee injury.

The game in 250 words

Haaland laid down an early maker with the first sight of goal when he raced onto Tijjani Reijnders’ throughball even though he shot weakly at Verbruggen.

The City striker was the biggest goal threat in the opening exchanges, dragging a shot wide and having a farpost header scrambled off the line by Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen before he finally found the breakthrough.

Rayan Ait-Nouri won the ball high up the pitch and City moved forward quickly, with Omar Marmoush prodding the ball through Lewis Dunk’s legs for Haaland to whip home from 10 yards.

While City were on top, it was Brighton who had created the best opening to that point, with James Trafford denying Karou Mitoma at full-stretch after the winger had escaped the offside trap.

Pep Guardiola’s side kept pushing for a second after the break, with Marmoush playing a delicious cross with the outside of his boot and Oscar Bobb, unable to fully connect on the stretch.

Brighton responded with four substitutions that would turn the game, and it almost had an instant impact with Yankuba Minteh forcing Trafford to tip an effort over the bar.

Brighton were level from the penalty spot through Milner after Lewis Dunk’s volley hit Nunes’ outstretched arm from close range.

Trafford made a brilliant save late on to deny Paul van Hecke's close-range effort, clawing it away incredibly on the stretch.

But there would be one last twist, with Gruda racing away to score a late winner.

Rodri returns

City fans, delighted to see him back, gave Rodri a rousing response every time he came anywhere near the away end.

The current Ballon d’Or holder's return for his first Premier League start in nearly a year was one of the bright spots of a disappointing day.

Guardiola, who described his return as ‘big news’ ahead of kick-off, has been careful with his return to try to avoid any setbacks.

At times, it was almost like the Spaniard had never been away as he orchestrated City’s possession domination from the base of midfield.

Haaland hundred

A century of Premier League appearances for the City striker and Haaland marked the occasion the only way he knows how.

The Brighton defence seemed intent on trying to unsettle the Norwegian but he kept his cool to steer the Blues ahead in the first half.

Haaland already had more goals from his first 100 appearances than anyone in Premier League history even before hitting the milestone against the Seagulls.

Another stretched his total to 88 – nine more than previous record holder Alan Shearer with 79. City legend Sergio Aguero is fourth on the list with 64.

Time for a break

Guardiola now has two weeks to reflect on a frustrating start to the campaign.

Two defeats in our opening three matches will be a big disappointment for a team used to competing for trophies.

Manchester derbies are always huge occasions and the one at the Etihad when we return in a fortnight's time will be very tasty.

It will feel like a long wait for the occasion with City used to having the opportunity to be able to have an instant response, but Pep will be working hard to get us ready.

Team sheets

BRIGHTON: Verbruggen, Dunk, Van Hecke, Minteh, Hinshelwood (Ayari 61), Baleba (Milner 61), Mitoma, Gomez (Gruda 61), De Cuyper, Veltman, Welbeck (Rutter 61).

Subs not used: Steele, Boscagli, Kadioglu, O’Riley, Coppola

CITY: Trafford, Nunes (Lewis 85), Khusanov (Dias 85), Stones, Ait-Nouri, Rodri, Bernardo (O’Reilly 72), Bobb, Reijnders, Marmoush (Doku 72), Haaland.

Subs not used: Ederson, Ake, Nico, Gundogan, Akanji.

Guardiola reaction

"We concede the goal and after that it shifted. Until then it was really, really good, we had chances and the team looked aggressive and dynamic.

"We made a good hour and then after the last half an hour we were not good. We forgot to pass the ball, just played long balls and we were not good enough. It is what it is.

"Erling is our big threat but in general we made a good hour and after we concede the goal, a bit like Tottenham, we concede and everywhere we don't continue to do what we need to do.

"It can happen, you still have time because it is possible to concede in the Premier League. Of course everyone makes the substitutions to get better and they did it well but it all changed after the goal.

"We have a really good squad and of course we changed many things from the past to now, which is normal, we need new players to adapt and we need the older ones to help them to cope."

Player reaction

"[It's] disappointing because we’re Man City and we come here to win. But this is the reality, we are not at the level for a long, long time.

"The only way to come back is to look at ourselves. That’s the reality. I think we started well but in the second half we dropped a little bit, and here at their home with the pressure and two big mistakes from us and then 2-1."