Yasin Ayari Scores As Brighton Beat Manchester City 1–0

Yasin Ayari’s 11th-minute goal gave Brighton a 1–0 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, handing the Premier League leaders their second consecutive league defeat.

Ayari finished from close range after Diego Gomez’s low delivery escaped Matheus Nunes and reached him through Maxim De Cuyper. Brighton defended that advantage for the rest of the match, reversing the outcome of the clubs’ midweek cup meeting.

City won Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie on penalties after a 2–2 draw at the same stadium. Ayari had missed in that shootout, but his league winner secured three points for Fabian Hürzeler’s side three days later.

City had 21 shots to Brighton’s seven and six attempts on target to the visitors’ three, according to Sky Sports’ match statistics. The hosts also held 62.4 percent possession and won eight corners, while Brighton had two. Brighton received three yellow cards, while City finished without a booking in the league rematch.

Bart Verbruggen kept City out as the pressure increased. The goalkeeper pushed an Iliman Ndiaye effort onto the post, and Ndiaye later shot into the side netting after Nico O’Reilly’s pass, PA reported. O’Reilly and Rayan Cherki also went close.

Enzo Maresca’s team remained on 21 points from nine matches. Arsenal were level on points before Sunday’s trip to Liverpool, while Brighton moved within two points of City after taking their sixth league victory.

Maresca said in City’s official match commentary that his side had created enough chances but needed to be more clinical. Verbruggen credited Brighton’s determination after the visitors lost control of possession during the closing stages.

City’s next match is away to RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday. Brighton’s official fixture list has a Conference League visit to Getafe on Thursday before their next Premier League game against Brentford.