Erling Haaland became the fastest player ever to 100 Premier League goal contributions as Manchester City were held by fellow top-four hopefuls Brighton 2-2 at the Etihad.
The chase for European football is being hotly contested by as many as eight clubs this season, including both City and Brighton, but neither were able to take command of the race despite record-breaking Haaland’s best efforts.
“Not bad, right? Hopefully we can continue to play better and help him to score more,” Pep Guardiola said of Haaland’s latest accolade.
Omar Marmoush won a penalty – felled by a senseless Adam Webster challenge – for the striker to despatch an opener, before Marmoush himself rifled a superb second after Pervis Estupinan equalised via a pinpoint free-kick.
The game was played at a thrilling pace and Abdukodir Khusanov turned through his own net early in the second period to draw emboldened Brighton – on a four-game winning streak – level for the second time. And there were chances aplenty for a winner.
Yankuba Minteh let a back-post sitter run inexplicably through his legs, Carlos Baleba smashed over unmarked from 10 yards, while Nico Gonzalez struck the post for City. Neither side was able to turn one point into a precious three.
The competition for the chance to play Champions League football next season remains as fascinatingly open as ever as Guardiola’s side stay provisionally fifth, while resurgent Brighton remain a point further back in seventh.
Why did Pep confront the referee?
Pep Guardiola speaks with referee Simon Hooper at full time
Jeremy Doku was booked for simulation by referee Simon Hooper in the second period when jumping over an incoming tackle from Jan Paul van Hecke. The challenge looked to be an honest attempt to play the ball but mistimed, and at full pace. Doku leaped to avoid contact with the defender before referee Hooper brandished a caution, suggesting Doku had dived.
Speaking about the incident post-match, Guardiola said: “He doesn’t jump, he can break his leg. He jumps to avoid contact. Doku is not a diving player, they should know that. It is what it is. We didn’t win or lose from that decision. I said to the referee that, if he doesn’t jump he could get kicked hard – he did it to protect himself.”
Hurzeler: Decision making let us down
Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler:
“There were two or three really big chances in the second half to go for the winner. We have to improve the small margins and then next time do it better.
“I’m not a big fan of statistics or records, it’s about chasing the next level. Today we played our style. Overall it’s a fact that we won the first time a point here, but more it’s disappointing not to have three points.
“We lost two points because we didn’t find the right balance of playing out from the back and playing a long ball. Decision making wasn’t on the highest level from us. It was our responsibility – we weren’t clean enough in the first half.”
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