Premier League
BrightonBrighton & Hove Albion1Man CityManchester City1

Brighton 1-1 Manchester City: Julio Enciso scores stunning equaliser to seal Europa League place

By Joe RindlBBC Sport
Brighton's Julio Enciso celebrates his goal
Teenagers have scored 11 Premier League goals for Brighton this season, two more than the other 19 teams combined

Brighton's Julio Enciso scored a fantastic equaliser as the Seagulls confirmed Europa League qualification with an entertaining draw against champions Manchester City.

Phil Foden opened the scoring for Treble-chasing City, squeezing the ball beyond Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke on the goalline after Erling Haaland's assist left goalkeeper Jason Steele stranded.

Brighton deservedly levelled through 19-year-old Enciso's stunning strike, which arrowed into the top corner from 25 yards.

Haaland had a goal ruled out for a pull on his marker in 79th minute following a video assistant referee review, as Brighton held on for a draw that ends City's 12-match winning run in the Premier League.

As for Brighton, the hard-earned point seals a top-six finish and cements a place in next season's Europa League group stage.

Brilliant Brighton secure sixth

Brighton were good value for their point and on another day could have handed City their first defeat since 5 February.

Danny Welbeck struck the crossbar direct from a free-kick in the 19th minute, while Kaoru Mitoma bundled home from a corner after 31 minutes only to see his goal rightly ruled out for the ball hitting his arm.

Enciso's leveller was brilliant. The Paraguayan midfielder capitalised on City's defenders backing away and sweetly stuck the ball into the top-right corner to net his fourth goal since joining the Sussex club in January.

The hosts continued to push with Welbeck having a goal ruled out for offside on the stroke of half-time.

And after the restart City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega did well to keep out both Mitoma and Evan Ferguson, while Pervis Estupinan fired a long-range effort narrowly wide.

Brighton's 20 shots was the most the Citizens have faced in the league this season.

Roberto de Zerbi's side travel to Aston Villa on the final day of the season on Sunday, safe in the knowledge they have already achieved the club's highest ever top-flight finish.

Haaland denied as winning run stopped

City may have already wrapped up the title and have their sights set on the FA Cup and Champions League finals, but their line-up against Brighton was experienced and full of attacking talent.

Haaland could have opened the scoring in the opening moments but saw his close-range header from Foden's cross fly over the bar.

In the second half Ilkay Gundogan dragged a shot narrowly wide from a tight angle before Haaland had a 37th Premier League goal of the season ruled out for a shirt pull.

After referee Simon Hooper consulted the VAR monitor the Norwegian was adjudged to have fouled Levi Colwill as Cole Palmer sent over a cross.

City end the campaign away to Brentford on Sunday and will finish with at least 90 points in a Premier League season for a record fourth time if they avoid defeat.

The following Saturday they face city rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final before playing Inter Milan in the Champions League final seven days later.

Player of the match

GilmourBilly Gilmour

with an average of 8.13

Brighton & Hove Albion

  1. Squad number27Player nameGilmour
    Average rating

    8.13

  2. Squad number20Player nameEnciso
    Average rating

    7.94

  3. Squad number25Player nameCaicedo
    Average rating

    7.44

  4. Squad number18Player nameWelbeck
    Average rating

    7.42

  5. Squad number6Player nameColwill
    Average rating

    7.35

  6. Squad number22Player nameMitoma
    Average rating

    7.31

  7. Squad number40Player nameBuonanotte
    Average rating

    7.27

  8. Squad number29Player namevan Hecke
    Average rating

    7.27

  9. Squad number30Player nameEstupiñán
    Average rating

    7.27

  10. Squad number13Player nameGroß
    Average rating

    7.21

  11. Squad number23Player nameSteele
    Average rating

    7.20

  12. Squad number10Player nameMac Allister
    Average rating

    7.14

  13. Squad number28Player nameFerguson
    Average rating

    7.13

  14. Squad number34Player nameVeltman
    Average rating

    6.58

  15. Squad number21Player nameUndav
    Average rating

    6.53

Manchester City

  1. Squad number47Player nameFoden
    Average rating

    7.45

  2. Squad number80Player namePalmer
    Average rating

    6.92

  3. Squad number2Player nameWalker
    Average rating

    6.89

  4. Squad number5Player nameStones
    Average rating

    6.69

  5. Squad number8Player nameGündogan
    Average rating

    6.60

  6. Squad number82Player nameLewis
    Average rating

    6.57

  7. Squad number19Player nameÁlvarez
    Average rating

    6.54

  8. Squad number17Player nameDe Bruyne
    Average rating

    6.53

  9. Squad number9Player nameHaaland
    Average rating

    6.51

  10. Squad number18Player nameOrtega
    Average rating

    6.50

  11. Squad number4Player namePhillips
    Average rating

    6.48

  12. Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva
    Average rating

    6.48

  13. Squad number16Player nameRodri
    Average rating

    6.46

  14. Squad number26Player nameMahrez
    Average rating

    6.42

  15. Squad number21Player nameGómez
    Average rating

    6.35

Line-ups

Brighton

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 23Steele
  • 13Groß
  • 29van HeckeBooked at 90mins
  • 6Colwill
  • 30Estupiñán
  • 27GilmourSubstituted forMac Allisterat 52'minutes
  • 25Caicedo
  • 40BuonanotteSubstituted forVeltmanat 75'minutesBooked at 89mins
  • 20EncisoSubstituted forFergusonat 52'minutes
  • 22Mitoma
  • 18WelbeckSubstituted forUndavat 75'minutes

Substitutes

  • 4Webster
  • 5Dunk
  • 10Mac Allister
  • 21Undav
  • 26Ayari
  • 28Ferguson
  • 34Veltman
  • 38McGill
  • 51Peupion

Man City

Formation 4-3-3

  • 18Ortega
  • 2Walker
  • 5StonesSubstituted forGómezat 84'minutes
  • 16Rodri
  • 82Lewis
  • 17De BruyneSubstituted forÁlvarezat 57'minutes
  • 8Gündogan
  • 20Bernardo SilvaBooked at 41minsSubstituted forPhillipsat 84'minutes
  • 26Mahrez
  • 9Haaland
  • 47FodenSubstituted forPalmerat 51'minutes

Substitutes

  • 4Phillips
  • 19Álvarez
  • 21Gómez
  • 31Ederson
  • 62Charles
  • 75O'Reilly
  • 80Palmer
  • 93Robertson
  • 96Knight
Referee:
Simon Hooper
Attendance:
31,388

Match Stats

Home TeamBrightonAway TeamMan City
Possession
Home40%
Away60%
Shots
Home20
Away13
Shots on Target
Home7
Away4
Corners
Home5
Away1
Fouls
Home16
Away11

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Manchester City 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Manchester City 1.

  3. Booking

    Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  4. Post update

    Erling Haaland (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  5. Post update

    Foul by Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton and Hove Albion).

  6. Post update

    Erling Haaland (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  7. Post update

    Foul by Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton and Hove Albion).

  8. Post update

    Attempt missed. Erling Haaland (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Riyad Mahrez with a cross following a set piece situation.

  9. Booking

    Joël Veltman (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  10. Post update

    Cole Palmer (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  11. Post update

    Foul by Joël Veltman (Brighton and Hove Albion).

  12. Post update

    Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  13. Post update

    Foul by Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton and Hove Albion).

  14. Post update

    Foul by Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City).

  15. Post update

    Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  16. Post update

    Rico Lewis (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  17. Post update

    Foul by Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton and Hove Albion).

  18. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  19. Substitution

    Substitution, Manchester City. Kalvin Phillips replaces Bernardo Silva.

  20. Substitution

    Substitution, Manchester City. Sergio Gómez replaces John Stones because of an injury.

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TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Man City37285494326289
2Arsenal37256683434081
3Newcastle371913567323570
4Man Utd36216952411169
5Liverpool37199971432866
6Brighton371881171512062
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10Fulham37157155451352
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13Wolves37118183153-2241
14West Ham37117194153-1240
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16Nottm Forest37910183767-3037
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