Manchester City missed the opportunity to leap into the Premier League’s top four when Brighton came from behind twice to draw, 2-2, at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Erling Haaland scored from the penalty spot to give City the lead after Omar Marmoush was fouled, and they were denied a second when Pervis Estupiñán equalized with a beauty of a free-kick that hit the post before landing in the net.
Marmoush revived City’s advantage six minutes before the break, drilling a 20-yard strike off the upright and into the net. But Brighton hit back after the break when Jack Hinshelwood’s shot took a deflection off Abdukodir Khusanov that went beyond Stefan Ortega.
Both teams had chances late on, as Yankuba Minteh shot weakly from close range and Nico González hit the post. Carlos Baleba then wasted a glorious chance for Brighton, shooting over from within the penalty area.
The outcome leaves City in fifth place, a point behind Chelsea, who have a game in hand, and Brighton in seventh.
The draw aside, Haaland became the first player in history to pass 100 goal involvements in fewer than 100 Premier League matches, but City’s defensive woes continued, with the club having conceded the most number of goals in any season since Pep Guardiola took over.
