WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN!
Brighton battlers stunned by Belgian’s super strike
THAT harmonious groaning, the constant
humming of disapproval inside a stadium from supporters of the favourites of any given game, is beautifully comforting. Evidence that a proper game is taking place. This was certainly one of those.
Roberto De Zerbi might still be searching for a first victory as Brighton manager, but serious signs of encouragement are there. Brighton left having boasted the majority of possession, and nobody manages that here.
It was the sort of away performance that saw Pep Guardiola bristle inside his technical area — even more so than usual — and have a fair few disagreements with Manchester City’s players. Again, even more than usual.
City were under the pump for 20 minutes in the second half and everybody knew it. Plenty of nervousness. Brighton appeared ready to snatch something. And then, in the 75th minute, Kevin De Bruyne took the ball on. And then it was over.
A stunner, curling far away into Robert Sanchez’s top right-hand corner from just over 20 yards. In all the way, De Bruyne heading off in celebration by covering one eye to show off a sizeable shiner after taking a ball to the face in training during the week.
‘I knew De Bruyne before but I know him better now — incredible, amazing,’ De Zerbi said. ‘I’m sad. Not only for today but for these five games. We played very well but the results are not fair. I’m happy I’m not playing Pep again for a while because this week I did not sleep much.’
Murmuring became relief, City bouncing back from last week’s defeat at Anfield, but it was no stroll. The usually imperious Rodri had a tough day, with one animated discussion with Guardiola making it clear the two were not on the same page, as Brighton went man-for-man and closed down space. Their premier central midfielder, Moises Caicedo, showed why he is being courted by the biggest clubs. ‘He can become one of the best in the world,’ De Zerbi said.
Despite the scoreline, this was more evidence that City have not always been at their fluent best this season Brighton made this into a cat-and-mouse contest, patiently refusing to engage with City’s back four. The hosts could not pass through the stubborn lines and they were not pleased about it.
‘The game was one of the toughest ones I could face,’ Guardiola said. With Danny Welbeck briefly stricken, Guardiola held a meeting after just eight minutes, with Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Ederson and Erling Haaland in attendance.
He implored them to go longer, and that eventually brought the opening goal. After 22 minutes, Ederson spotted a space to hit between Sanchez and his back three, knowing that Haaland owns the legs to reach anything.
Sure enough he did, racing clear to beat Sanchez outside the box and then shoulder barging Adam Webster to the floor, tapping into an unguarded goal. The Norwegian should have earned a penalty two minutes earlier when Sanchez kicked his ankle, but VAR did not overturn Craig Pawson’s decision to award nothing.
It was a different matter later in the half, when Pawson was forced to stop proceedings to take a second look at Lewis Dunk’s challenge on Silva.
Dunk hung out his leg, and Silva went over it after a gentle push by
Pascal Gross. Haaland gave Sanchez no chance to set himself and the keeper almost cowered as the ball flew beyond him. Seventeen and counting for Haaland, and the 600th goal City have scored in the league under Guardiola.
Brighton felt aggrieved they went in two-down and they hit back sharply after the break. Leandro Trossard scored it after 53 minutes, fizzing into Ederson’s near post from 20 yards. The goal did not paint either Rodri or Manuel Akanji in a particularly positive light, neither closing down his man with any real gusto.
And suddenly the Etihad Stadium started to wonder. Riyad Mahrez had squandered a presentable chance before Trossard struck, the Algerian promptly hauled off by Guardiola.
Trossard nodded wide when substitute Tariq Lamptey’s cross was not attacked by Akanji, while Lamptey would later sneak in behind, just failing to find enough purchase on the eventual header.
After he had embarrassed Akanji in the Brighton half, Trossard stormed off effectively untracked straight into City’s box, Ederson bailing out his defence with a smart save.
Respite came when Silva squared for De Bruyne. He pinged it into the corner without more than a second’s thought. Not bad for someone squinting out of one eye.