The Landmark: Haaland’s 150th Goal
The night started with a sense of destiny. In the 41st minute, Jeremy Doku was brought down in the box by Diego Gomez. After a tense VAR review, the penalty was awarded. Erling Haaland stepped up and coolly slotted home his 150th goal for Manchester City in just 173 appearances—an unthinkable record.
At that moment, it felt like City would cruise to victory and snap their recent "draw streak." But beneath the surface, the cracks were already showing.
The Collapse: Mitoma Silences the Etihad
City’s defensive crisis was on full display, with 20-year-old Max Alleyne forced into a senior debut alongside Abdukodir Khusanov. While the youngsters fought hard, the lack of cohesion was evident.
Brighton’s pressure finally told in the 60th minute. Kaoru Mitoma picked up the ball on the edge of the area, danced past a static Nico Gonzalez, and drilled a low, laser-precise strike into the bottom corner. Gianluigi Donnarumma, who had made two world-class saves early in the half, could only watch as the Japanese international wheeled away in celebration.
A Comedy of Missed Chances
The final 20 minutes were pure chaos.
• Bernardo Silva hit the post with the goal gaping.
• Erling Haaland saw a goalbound header cleared off the line before firing a "sitter" straight at Bart Verbruggen from eight yards out.
• Substitute Rayan Cherki blazed a golden opportunity over the bar in stoppage time.
Guardiola was seen fuming on the touchline as his side registered 22 shots but failed to find the killer blow.
Match Statistics & Key Moments
| Feature | Details |
| Final Score | Manchester City 1 - 1 Brighton |
| Goals (City) | E. Haaland (41' Pen) |
| Goals (Brighton) | K. Mitoma (60') |
| Attendance | 51,728 at the Etihad Stadium |
| Man of the Match | Kaoru Mitoma |
What This Means for the Title Race
This marks City’s third consecutive Premier League draw to open 2026. With Arsenal playing Liverpool on Thursday, the Gunners have a golden opportunity to pull eight points clear at the top.
Pep Guardiola admitted after the match that the missed chances are "difficult to accept," while Brighton boss Fabian Hürzeler remains remarkably unbeaten in his first four meetings with the Spaniard—a feat no other manager in history has achieved.