Manchester City’s troubles deepened with a 2-1 defeat to Brighton, marking their fourth consecutive loss across all competitions—a first in Pep Guardiola’s managerial career. Despite taking the lead in the 23rd minute with Erling Haaland’s rebound goal, City was unable to hold off a late surge from Brighton at the Amex Stadium.
Joao Pedro equalized in the 78th minute, capitalizing on a goalmouth scramble after City failed to clear their lines. Just five minutes later, Pedro turned provider, threading a pass to Matt O’Riley, who sealed the victory with a well-placed finish past Ederson.
City’s defensive vulnerabilities were evident throughout the second half, with Brighton creating numerous chances despite having only 39.5% possession. Jack Hinshelwood’s header, saved by Ederson, and Kaoru Mitoma’s close-range effort added pressure to a City side weakened by injuries to key players like John Stones, Rodri, and Jack Grealish.
The champions’ recent string of losses includes a 2-1 defeat to Tottenham in the League Cup, a 2-1 upset by Bournemouth in the Premier League, and a 4-1 Champions League rout by Sporting, which has put them under pressure in the title race. As City faltered, Brighton climbed to fourth place in the standings with 19 points, igniting hopes of European qualification.
After the match, Guardiola expressed frustration at his side’s missed opportunities, with Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva both coming close to an equalizer during the nine minutes of stoppage time. City remains second in the Premier League standings on 23 points, now trailing the league leaders by a widening margin.
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