Premier League debutant Matt O’Riley proved Brighton & Hove Albion’s hero as he completed a turnaround in a 2-1 win over Manchester City at the Amex Stadium.
The substitute returned from injury with a bang as he condemned Pep Guardiola to a fourth successive defeat in all competitions for the first time in his managerial career.
Erling Haaland had given City a deserved lead in the first half, but they were pegged back by another substitute in Joao Pedro in the 78th minute.
O’Riley then piled the misery on their visitors with a composed finish five minutes later, ensuring Fabian Hurzeler’s side – who were on the wrong end of a turnaround against Liverpool last time out – came out on top.
It is a win that lifts Brighton to fourth, while second-place City missed the chance to go top and now sit two points behind Liverpool, who play Aston Villa later on Saturday.
How the match unfolded
City started with purpose, with Savinho forcing a smart save out of Bart Verbruggen from a tight angle on the right before Haaland ballooned a volley well wide on the stretch.
But the Norwegian soon got his name back on the scoresheet, following in after his first shot was smothered by the goalkeeper to poke it over the line before Jan Paul van Hecke could clear.
Haaland could have bagged a second moments later, only for Verbruggen to turn his tight effort against the post, while Danny Welbeck sent a free-kick narrowly wide at the other end just before the break.
Brighton upped the pressure in the second half and Joao Pedro looked to have wasted the best chance as he dragged wide from a one-on-one. But he did not miss his second chance, profiting from a scramble to fire in the equaliser.
O’Riley sent the Amex into raptures shortly after as he breached the back line to poke the winner past Ederson.
Hurzeler’s substitutions have Brighton soaring
One could say that this was the worst time for Brighton to face City, with the visitors always likely to be determined to end their recent losing run.
But the Seagulls had a point to prove, too. Hurzeler’s impressive start to life in the Premier League had stalled in recent weeks as his side gave up leads to drop points against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool in their last two league games. He would have also been keen to turn things around.
They were sloppy in the first half, with their usual possession-based game causing more problems for themselves, and City benefited from a loose pass in midfield to take the lead.
But nothing can be taken away from Brighton’s second-half performance as they used width to their advantage, peppering crosses into the box while piling bodies forward to force mistakes high up the field.
With City’s defence struggling to cope, the freshness of Joao Pedro and O’Riley helped take full advantage.
They still had to dig deep in the final moments with City pushing for an equaliser, but their defence was resolute as they recorded a famous victory at the Amex Stadium.
City’s struggles continue
Guardiola has remained resolute over the last 10 days, insisting before this match that City were not in a “dark place” like Bernardo Silva had suggested after their 4-1 defeat to Sporting in the Champions League.
Never before had the Spaniard lost four games in a row in his managerial career and, though he may point to City’s injury troubles as part of the reason, it came down to the difference between the first and second halves here.
Haaland’s 12th Premier League goal of the season looked to be setting them on their way to a much-needed three points as they continuously caused Brighton problems before the break.
Brighton, however, turned the tide with more space opening up and Guardiola’s side looked uncharacteristically disorganised as they failed to clear their lines from the equaliser.
With big games against Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool up next for them in the Premier League after the international break, Guardiola will be hoping they can change their luck sooner rather than later.
Club reports
Brighton report | Man City report
What the managers said
Fabian Hurzeler: “We didn’t have momentum in the first half because we were too passive. We were able to change momentum today and used it well. The team gets for their performance the result they deserved, and I am happy for them.
“We needed to be more patient in possession. We played too many vertical balls and gave it away too easily. But when you are patient gaps opened more and we played with more intensity in the second half, had better pressing patterns and were more ruthless in personal duels.”
Pep Guardiola: “We are not able to do 90 minutes right now. We played a really good first half and moments in the second half. We lost again so clean our heads, international break and hopefully our players come back fit.
“We have to try and win games again. We were not able to sustain the rhythm in the second half. Four [defeats] in a row. We have to change things quick. The schedule becomes tough but it is going to happen when the players come back.”
Next Premier League fixtures
Key facts
City have lost a Premier League game which they led at half-time for the first time since May 2021, also away to Brighton – while Brighton have now won each of their last two in which they trailed at the interval, after going winless in their previous 23 (D5 L18).
Only Jhon Duran (eight) has more goals as a substitute in the Premier League since the start of last season than Joao Pedro (five).
Brighton are now unbeaten across their first six Premier League home matches of the season (W3 D3); their second-longest ever such run at the start of a top-flight campaign, only behind 1982/83, when they remained undefeated across their first seven (W5 D2).
Haaland has lost a Premier League match in which he scored a goal for the very first time, having won 40 and drawn six of the previous 46 he’d scored in before today. It was the fourth-longest such run for any player, only behind Diogo Jota (48), James Milner (54) and Gabriel Jesus (60).
