Gruda grabs late winner as Brighton stun Man City

Brajan Gruda came off the bench to score an 89th-minute goal to give Brighton their first win of the Premier League season, while condemning Manchester City to back-to-back defeats.

The German attacking midfielder finished calmly to seal a comeback success after he rounded James Trafford, who had made a brilliant save to deny Jan Paul van Hecke moments earlier.

City had taken a 34th-minute lead as Erling Haaland marked his 100th Premier League appearance with his 88th goal, poking home from close range.

But the Norwegian spurned other chances that proved costly in the end for Pep Guardiola's side.

Following a Matheus Nunes handball inside the box, James Milner converted from the penalty spot against his former club to become the Premier League's second oldest scorer - behind Teddy Sheringham - at the age of 39 years and 239 days.

It was Milner's first Brighton goal and first in the league since Boxing Day, 2019, when he scored in Liverpool 4-0 win against Leicester City - also from the penalty spot.

The Seagulls continued to threaten after the 67th-minute equaliser and snatched victory when Gruda broke clear and showed composure to slide home his third goal for the club since his arrival last year from Mainz.

City, who lost 2-0 at home to Spurs last weekend, have only three points from as many games, while Brighton have four following this dramatic success.

Man City analysis: Back to drawing board for Guardiola

City kicked off their season with an impressive win at Wolves, but back-to-back defeats to Tottenham and Brighton will stir fears of a repeat of the 2024-25 campaign when they went without a major trophy for the first time in eight years.

Their slump last season coincided with Rodri's absence with a serious knee injury that kept him out for most of the campaign.

But despite the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner making his first league start since a 2-2 draw with Arsenal last September, there was not much for Guardiola to celebrate here.

Games against Brighton had proved tricky for City last season, with a 2-1 away defeat last November followed by a 2-2 draw at Etihad Stadium in March.

It proved to be a cagey first half on Sunday with the visitors made to wait until the 25th minute to test Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, who kept out a powerful header from Haaland, who had fired shots wide before then.

But there was no stopping the 25-year-old nine minutes later as Omar Marmoush poked through a pass for Haaland to mark his landmark appearance with another strike.

Without too much threat from their hosts, City were comfortable, but Guardiola will be concerned by the ease in which the Seagulls picked them apart in a disappointing second period.

City failed to register a single shot on target after the restart, while their defence failed to deal with Brighton's attacking pressure.

Heading into the international break, Guardiola will return to the drawing board, wondering how he can restore his side to their previous heights.

Brighton analysis: Hurzeler's changes prove inspired

Brighton were left to rue missed chances last week when they suffered their first defeat of the season at Everton.

And the Seagulls' first-half performance against City did not inspire much confidence, either, as they registered just one shot - an early long-range effort from Kaoru Mitoma that was tipped behind by Trafford.

However, boss Fabian Hurzeler turned to his bench to turn things around just past the hour mark.

A quadruple change saw Gruda, Milner, Georginio Rutter and Yasin Ayari come on with the side trailing 1-0.

It instantly re-energised the hosts as, moments later, Mitoma drove with the ball before slipping in Yankuba Minteh to force Trafford into another save.

Captain Lewis Dunk's cross then struck the arm of Nunes, giving Brighton a way back into the game through Milner's spot-kick that he finished emphatically.

They pushed for the winner and, after criticism for his mistake in the defeat by Spurs, Trafford brilliantly stretched to claw out Van Hecke's deflected effort.

But there was nothing the City keeper could do when a quick counter saw Mitoma feed Gruda and the 21-year-old evaded Rayan Ait-Nouri and Trafford to slot home.

What's next for these teams?

City will be thrust into the season's first Manchester derby straight after the international break as Manchester United visit Etihad Stadium on Sunday, 14 September (16:30 BST).

Brighton will return to action a day earlier as they make the trip to Bournemouth for a Saturday (15:00 BST) kick-off at Vitality Stadium.

Where next?

• Manchester City draw Real Madrid in Champions League

• Crystal Palace make approach for Man City's Akanji

• Chelsea close in on Brighton's Buonanotte

• Hurzeler '100%' sure Baleba will stay at Brighton

• What does your club need before transfer window shuts?