Brighton mounted a stunning second-half comeback to beat Manchester City 2-1 at the Amex Stadium, with substitute Brajan Gruda scoring a dramatic winner in the 89th minute. The victory was fully deserved after a dominant second-half display from the hosts, who had trailed at half-time.
City took the lead through Erling Haaland just before the break, but Brighton equalised early in the second half when James Milner converted a penalty against his former club. The hosts then piled on pressure, forcing multiple saves from City goalkeeper James Trafford before Gruda rounded Trafford and slotted home after a clever assist from Kaoru Mitoma.
Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler changed the game with a quadruple substitution on the hour mark, injecting energy and pace. City, meanwhile, looked increasingly vulnerable to balls played in behind their defensive line, particularly after the substitution of Bernardo Silva. The defending champions have now lost an aura of invincibility, with recent opponents repeatedly exploiting the space between defence and goalkeeper.
City’s performance was disjointed despite the return of Rodri from injury. Haaland remains their primary threat, but his finishing was erratic, missing several chances before scoring. The visitors lacked midfield control and struggled to contain Brighton’s counterattacks, a recurring issue for Pep Guardiola’s side this season.
Milner’s penalty made him the second oldest scorer in Premier League history at 39, while Gruda’s winner capped a remarkable turnaround. Brighton had been the better team for much of the second half, and their victory was no fluke. City, once so formidable, now look increasingly fallible.
