Last updated on March 16, 2025
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Omar Marmoush celebrates scoring the second goal for Manchester City.
Image credit: Manchester City
Manchester City and Brighton played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Etihad, with Erling Haaland breaking yet another Premier League record.
The Norwegian striker became the fastest player to reach 100 goal contributions in the competition, but his efforts weren’t enough to secure all three points for City.
Brighton’s Resilience Denies City
The match was packed with drama as City took the lead twice but were pegged back on both occasions.
Omar Marmoush won a penalty after a clumsy challenge from Adam Webster, which Haaland confidently dispatched.
Brighton responded through a stunning Pervis Estupiñán free-kick, only for Marmoush to fire City ahead once again.
This finish from Omar Marmoush 🤌 pic.twitter.com/JCUjW3YAcG
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 15, 2025
However, the visitors showed remarkable determination, and Abdukodir Khusanov’s own goal ensured they left Manchester with a hard-earned point.
The game’s frantic pace continued until the final whistle, with both sides missing key chances.
Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh and Carlos Baleba squandered golden opportunities, while City’s Nico González saw his header strike the post.
Guardiola’s Frustration with Refereeing Decisions
Man City and Brighton share the spoils 🤝 pic.twitter.com/uLHyLfAvRm
— 433 (@433) March 15, 2025
One of the major talking points came in the second half when Jeremy Doku was booked for simulation after leaping over Jan Paul van Hecke’s challenge.
Pep Guardiola was visibly frustrated, arguing that Doku jumped to avoid injury rather than attempting to deceive the referee.
“If he doesn’t jump, he could get seriously injured. It wasn’t a dive,” Guardiola insisted post-match.
Champions League Race Wide Open
Despite dropping points, City remain firmly in the battle for a top-four finish.
Guardiola’s side sits provisionally fifth, while Brighton, riding a wave of strong form, is just one point behind in seventh.
With nine games left, including a favorable run of fixtures, City’s path to Champions League qualification remains in their hands—but their inconsistency at home remains a concern.
Brighton boss Fabian Hürzeler praised his team’s performance but felt they could have snatched the win.
“We had some huge chances in the second half. We need to be sharper in key moments,” he reflected.
What’s Next?
Both sides will now turn their focus to their upcoming fixtures as they continue their push for European football.
