In an entertaining clash at the Etihad, the Blues went ahead early on through an Erling Haaland penalty.
Brighton then levelled through a Pervis Estupiñán free-kick before Omar Marmoush restored our lead before the break.
A scruffy but unavoidable own goal by Abdukodir Khusanov moments into the second-half ended the scoring in what was an open and entertaining clash.
What happened…
As expected, the in-form visitors began in bright and confident manner and on seven minutes, Kaoru Mitoma thought he’d given his team the lead, but the ball brushed his hand – perhaps twice on its way over the line – as he collided with Stefan Ortega Moreno.
Referee Simon Hooper disallowed the effort and the VAR check confirmed the on-field decision.
A couple of minutes later, City were ahead.
Haaland picked up a misplaced Brighton pass on the halfway line and powered forward.
He laid the ball off to Marmoush on his right and the Egypt star continued into the box, chopped inside and was caught by the challenge of Adam Webster as he did so, giving the referee an easy penalty decision.
Haaland stepped up to send Bart Verbruggen the wrong way and claim his 100th Premier League goal involvement – a milestone achieved in just 94 appearances (84 goals and 16 assists) – quicker than anyone else in the competition’s history.
It was also the Norwegian’s 29th of another prolific campaign.
However, our lead would last less than 10 minutes.
Georginio Rutter tool a tumble outside the City box under the challenge of Nico and Pervis Estupinan levelled from the resulting free-kick, with Ortega Moreno wrong-footed as the 20-yard shot thumped the post on its way into the back of the net.
The Blues had a golden opportunity to restore the lead on 32 minutes as Marmoush and Savinho exchanged passes on the right of the Brighton box and as the Brazilian got in behind the last defender he looked certain to score, but Jan Paul van Hecke’s lunge seemed to put him off and his angled shot went well over the bar.
With 39 minutes played, however, City did regain the lead.
Ilkay Gundogan played a short pass to Marmoush who cut in from the left before powering a low shot in off the post from 22 yards out giving Verbruggen no chance.
A stray Nico pass just before the break allowed Brighton to go in on level terms as Joao Pedro nipped in-between Ruben Dias and Khusanov, with the latter’s efforts to prevent the Brazilian scoring just enough to see him skew a shot just past the post.
After just three minutes of the second-half, Brighton were once again level as Webster’s shot from a corner was turned on by Jack Hinshelwood and Khusanov was unfortunate to see his effort hit him and roll into the net for 2-2.
Just minutes after that, a Brighton counter-attack saw Pedro cross low from the left but Yankuba Minteh just failed to connect at the far post.
It was proving to be just as difficult a game as boss Pep Guardiola had predicted before the game.
Nico saw a late header hit the foot of the post and a Kevin De Bruyne free-kick just eluded Haaland in the six-yard box but neither side were able to find a winner to enhance a top five finish.
Teams
CITY: Ortega, Lewis, Khusanov, Dias (C), Gvardiol, Nico, Gundogan, Savinho (Bernardo 58 (Foden 77), Marmoush (De Bruyne 86), Doku, Haaland
Subs: Carson, Kovacic, Grealish, Reis, Nunes, McAtee
BRIGHTON: Verbruggen, Hinshelwood, Webster (C), van Hecke, Estupinian, Baleba, Gomez (Ayari 75), Minteh (Gruda 83), Georginio (Welbeck 75), Mitoma (Adingra 83), Joao Pedro
Subs: Rushworth, Cashin, Slater, Knight, Wieffer,
ATTENDANCE: 52,471
Pep Guardiola reaction
“It was a good game. A tight game – I know how difficult it is to make the process which we’re in now.
“The players gave everything – we take the point and we keep going.
“Of course, I have confidence and I always have. The young players played good. All the defenders were so clever.
“We were close, but unfortunately we couldn’t do it.”
MAN OF THE MATCH
An all-action performance from Omar Marmoush who was a constant threat throughout.
He won the penalty that Haaland opened the scoring from and he also restored our lead with a fine effort before half-time.
Marmoush never stopped running or working hard and he is looking an excellent acquisition by the Club.
GUNDOGAN REACTION
“I am disappointed. After getting twice in front and actually playing quite well, it’s a bit frustrating to not get the three points.
“I think we were able to limit their possession. Second half, after conceding the second, it felt like we dropped in confidence and belief.
“We dropped a little bit and gave away easy chances. It’s important to stay calm. Of course, mistakes happen even at this level.
“The opposition are so good. Every game is tough. Then when you concede sometimes you try not to do overdo things.
“We need to expect the best from everyone every single day. I thought we had a good week of training.
“We want to transmit that power and energy into the game. Sometimes it isn’t enough.”
WATCH: Every Manchester City goal scored so far this season!
What it means…
City will remain in fifth-place in the Premier League table even with other games still to play this weekend.
The Blues are a point behind Chelsea in fourth with Newcastle, Bournemouth and Fulham all having played a game fewer in the chasing pack.
What’s next?
City have a 15-day break before the next game.
We will take on Bournemouth in the FA Cup quarter-final on Sunday 30 March.
Kick-off at the Vitality Stadium is 16:30 (UK).
The following Wednesday (2 April), the Blues host Leicester City in the Premier League with a 19:45 kick-off at the Etihad.
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