Kaoru Mitoma’s 60th-minute equalizer earned Brighton & Hove Albion a well-deserved 1-1 draw against Manchester City on Wednesday, extending the champions’ winless run to three Premier League matches. City now trail leaders Arsenal by five points.
City had taken the lead four minutes before halftime through an Erling Haaland penalty. The spot-kick was awarded after Jeremy Doku was fouled by Diego Gomez in the box, with VAR confirming the referee’s decision. Haaland converted confidently to score his 150th goal for Manchester City, end a three-match goal drought, and reach 20 Premier League goals for the season.
The second half saw City push for a second goal that would have sealed the victory. Bernardo Silva came close when he intercepted a Brighton error, but his shot rebounded off the post. The match’s intensity increased when a confrontation erupted between City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and Brighton’s Maxim De Cuyper, with both players shown yellow cards.
Mitoma’s equalizer was a goal of high quality, with the Japanese international receiving a pass from the flank before positioning himself at the edge of the penalty area and guiding a precise low shot into the far corner, beating Donnarumma convincingly.
Brighton seized the initiative after scoring, controlling possession and building attacks methodically. They came agonizingly close to taking the lead when Mitoma found Gomez inside the box, but the midfielder’s effort was saved by Donnarumma. Mitoma’s rebound attempt from near the byline struck the post. In the closing stages, Haaland had a golden opportunity to win the match when he broke through Brighton’s defense, but Verbruggen produced an excellent save to deny the striker and secure a point for the visitors.
