Gruda's 89th-Minute Dagger Punctures City's Comeback Bid

À Voir Score Futmetrix: 68/100. Three lead changes, two penalties converted by bench players, and a substitute's late winner transforms a mid-table dogfight into pure theatre.

When Substitutes Become Executioners

Brighton arrived at the Amex as the underdog in possession (37%) but armed with a counter-attacking blueprint. Manchester City controlled the tempo early, their 63% dominance translating into a clinical 34th-minute opener: Omar Marmoush's assist found Erling Haaland for a straightforward finish. The Intensity meter read "controlled chaos"—City had the script, Brighton had the desperation.

Then the Stakes shifted. A 67th-minute penalty—awarded for a handball or contact—handed Brighton a lifeline. James Milner, summoned from the bench minutes earlier, stepped up and buried it with the composure of a veteran. Suddenly, the Balance tilted. Two teams, one point, 23 minutes remaining. City had 24 shots across 90 minutes; Brighton had 12. On paper, the visitors dominated. On the pitch, they were suffocating.

The Upset arrived at 89 minutes. Brajan Gruda, another substitute summoned at the hour mark, collected a pass on the edge of the box and finished with precision. Not a scramble. Not a deflection. A clinical, composed strike that turned Amex into bedlam. City's comeback narrative—they'd clawed back from 1-0 down—evaporated in a heartbeat. Brighton's bench had authored the comeback instead.

James Trafford made five saves for City, his distribution immaculate (87% pass accuracy), but even his heroics couldn't prevent the narrative collapse. Brighton's xG of 2.29 versus City's 1.84 told the real story: efficiency over volume. City peppered the box with 24 shots; Brighton's 12 carried lethal intent.

Three lead changes. Two substitute goalscorers. One devastating late blow. This wasn't a tactical masterclass—it was a Intensity spike that exposed the fragility of early-season form for both sides clawing for points in mid-table purgatory.