Saturday, October 23, 2021 at 8:24 PM• Last update: 20:26

Manchester City booked a comfortable 1-4 victory on Saturday evening visiting Brighton & Hove Albion. Thanks to Ilkay Gundogan and two hits from Phil Foden, Josep Guardiola’s team was already on roses before half-time, after which the Citizens took it easy in the second half. Brighton scored against it, but Riyad Mahrez compensated for that deep in injury time by also coming on the scoreboard. The win moves City up to second place, two points behind leaders Chelsea, while Brighton remains in fourth place.

Joël Veltman kicked off at Brighton, while third goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen was not part of the match selection. With Nathan Ake on the bench at Manchester City, the first danger of the game came from the visitors. Jack Grealish gave in to João Cancelo, who tried it with a shot from the edge of the box. Goalkeeper Robert Sánchez was alert, however. Five minutes later, Brighton’s closing post looked less sharp. On a blocked shot by Foden, the goalkeeper was slightly hindered by Gabriel Jesus, allowing the ball to slip out of his hands. Grealish then put wide on Gündogan, who was able to push the ball into the empty goal: 0-1. Protests against referee Kevin Friend and VAR’s checking of the goal did not help the home team.

City ahead! ?? Gundogan taps in from close range after Brighton goalkeeper Sanchez does not go free. Is the keeper hindered here? ?? #ZiggoSport #PremierLeague #BHAMCIA pic.twitter.com/KcArfV5ncO

— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) October 23, 2021

With just under half an hour on the clock, Manchester City managed to double the margin. The Citizens came out very quickly through Bernardo Silva, who sent Jack Grealish into the depths. The left winger had an eye for the following Foden. While sliding, the youth product shot the ball into the empty goal: 0-2. A few minutes later, the visitors were completely on roses. Sánchez initially had an answer to an attempt by Grealish, but then had no chance on Jesus’ shot, which was changed direction by Foden: 0-3. There were no great opportunities for both teams in the first fifteen minutes after the break. After a smoothly running attack, the home crowd also bounced once. Leandro Trossard was supposed to be the end station, but his shot was parried by Ederson.

City train at full throttle ?? Brighton, who has performed so surprisingly well this season, has nothing to say to The Citizens in-house ?? After half an hour of play it is already 3-0 via Jesus ?? —#ZiggoSport #PremierLeague #BHAMCIA pic.twitter.com/KD4YjgjJAQ

— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) October 23, 2021

In the course of the second half it became clear that Manchester City took it easy thanks to the comfortable lead. Fifteen minutes before time, the visitors finally asserted themselves again. Grealish appeared to be on his way to Sánchez, but was legally kicked off the ball by Veltman. It was immediately the last moment for Guardiola’s multimillion-dollar purchase, who was replaced by Kevin de Bruyne. The visitors became complacent and therefore had to swallow a goal. Enock Mwepu was knocked out by Ederson, after which the ball hit the spot. Alexis Mac Allister did not fail from eleven meters: 1-3. Deep into stoppage time, City made it 1-4, when Foden intercepted the ball in the build-up and gave substitute Riyad Mahrez an unmissable opportunity.