Brighton finish Man City’s successful run to safe top-six end

Phil Foden fired the English champions in entrance, however Brighton had been effectively worthy of the purpose given to them by Julio Enciso’s gorgeous long-range strike.

Brighton, who had already secured European soccer subsequent season for the primary time within the membership’s historical past, are actually sure to complete sixth.

City did at the least stretch their unbeaten run in all competitions to 25 video games as Pep Guardiola’s males opened up an eight-point lead on the high of the desk with one recreation remaining.

Guardiola heaped reward on Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi pre-match, hailing the Italian as some of the influential managers of the final 20 years.

The City coach confirmed his respect by restoring plenty of star names to his facet that missed Sunday’s 1-0 win over Chelsea to toast a fourth league title in 5 years.

Erling Haaland returned amongst six modifications and will have had a seventh hat-trick of the season inside half an hour.

The towering Norwegian headed over Foden’s inviting cross on 5 minutes.

Haaland then had a poor contact guilty for not beating Jason Steele when clear by way of on objective.

On the third time of asking he took no probabilities as Haaland unselfishly squared with simply Steele to beat for Foden to transform his fifteenth objective of the season.

However after a gradual begin, Brighton quickly started to stay as much as Guardiola’s billing because the champions had been rocked again on their heels.

Danny Welbeck’s free-kick got here crashing off the bar and Facundo Buonanotte ought to have finished higher along with his end after sauntering by way of the City defence.

Kaoru Mitoma additionally noticed an equaliser dominated out for handball.

However there was no stopping Enciso’s leveller when it did come because the Paraguayan picked up Levi Colwill’s go and smashed an effort into the highest nook for his first objective on the Amex.

Brighton had the ball within the internet for a 3rd time within the first 45 minutes moments later just for Welbeck to be flagged offside from Mitoma’s go.

The second interval was much less stuffed with goalmouth motion regardless of the electrical tempo of the sport.

Haaland thought he lastly had his 53rd objective of the season when he headed house Cole Palmer’s cross quarter-hour from time.

However a VAR overview caught out City’s prolific quantity 9 as he had pulled Colwill’s shirt to create the house for a free header.

Tempers briefly flared on the touchline after that call with Guardiola proven a yellow card by the referee.

There have been additionally minor damage considerations for City forward of the FA Cup and Champions League finals subsequent month as John Stones and Bernardo Silva weren’t transferring freely as they had been changed within the closing phases.

However it was all smiles on the finish as Guardiola and De Zerbi shared a heat embrace of mutual admiration after the full-time whistle.