Half Time Goals From Alvarez And Haaland Secure Victory For City

Manchester City's Thrilling Draw with Chelsea in Premier League Classic

Half-Time Goals from Alvarez and Haaland Secure Victory for City

Manchester City emerged victorious in a thrilling 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion to mark their return to action, despite playing with 10 men for the majority of the match.

First-Half Dominance

City dominated the first half, with Julian Alvarez opening the scoring in the 14th minute. Erling Haaland extended the lead 10 minutes later with his trademark predatory instinct. However, Brighton pulled a goal back through Leandro Trossard just before halftime.

Ten-Man City Battles

City's Joao Cancelo was sent off in the 58th minute for a reckless tackle, forcing Pep Guardiola's team to play with 10 men for the remaining 32 minutes. Despite the disadvantage, City held on to their lead thanks to a resolute defensive effort.

Missed Opportunities

Both teams had chances to add to the score in the second half, with Brighton coming close on several occasions. However, neither side could find a winning goal, resulting in a thrilling draw.

Pep Guardiola's Reaction

After the match, Guardiola praised his team's resilience. "It was a tough game, especially after we went down to 10 men," he said. "But the players showed great character and determination to get the win." Guardiola also acknowledged that Chelsea had been "excellent" and that the draw was a fair result.