Gull-Mouth Action podcast: How Pascal Gross will help Brighton
Kaoru Mitoma showed Brighton what they have been missing, as his classy goal earned the Seagulls a point at title-chasing Manchester City.
The Japan wide man – who missed nearly three months of action with a foot injury – has also recently recovered from illness.
The 27-year-old’s tricky and eye for goal has been sorely missed and he showed what an impact he can have in big games once again.
With Albion trailing to Erling Haaland’s 41st minute penalty, Mitoma picked the ball up from Yasin Ayari on the hour mark – before creating space for a shot on the edge of the box. You knew it was a goal as soon as the ball left his boot and 6ft 5in Gianluigi Donnarumma couldn’t reach it at full stretch.
Kaoru Mitoma showed Brighton what they have been missing, as his classy goal earned the Seagulls a point at title-chasing Manchester City. Photo: DARREN STAPLES / AFP via Getty Imagesplaceholder image
Kaoru Mitoma showed Brighton what they have been missing, as his classy goal earned the Seagulls a point at title-chasing Manchester City. Photo: DARREN STAPLES / AFP via Getty Images
Minutes later, Mitoma was at the heart of a big Albion chance as he provided what looked to be a tap-in for Diego Gomez – but the ball hits the midfielder’s heel and the chance was gone.
This added to what was already a frustrating day for Gomez, who gave away the first-half penalty with a sloppy challenge on Doku.
Falling behind was harsh on Brighton who played some great football and more than matched City in the first-half. Former Man City and Everton defender Andy Hinchcliffe said on Sky Sports: “He's [Haaland] hardly had a touch for the opening 40 minutes. But just one error by Brighton's Gomez and he and his team have been punished.”
The visitors’ response was admirable and earned a very creditable draw against a team fighting for the Premier League trophy.
They rode their luck late on, though, as Yasin Ayari gifted the ball away and Haaland was denied by Verbruggen. The City striker then fired an effort into the side-nettting before Rayan Cherki put a golden chance over the bar. Van Hecke also dived in front of a Haaland close range effort in the first minute of stoppage time as Brighton just about escaped.
Here’s how we rated the Albion players.
Bart Verbruggen – 8: Sent the wrong way by Haaland from the spot – the 25-year-old’s 20th league goal of the season and 150th overall for Manchester City. Verbruggen was off his line quickly to stop the City striker from getting a brace. Simple catch from long range Haaland effort. Massive moment late on as he saved what appeared to be a certain Haaland goal.
Jack Hinshelwood – 7: Really solid defensively and found right passes in attacking third. Mr Dependable.
Lewis Dunk – 7: Booked for hauling back Phil Foden but did well otherwise against a formidable City attack.
Jan Paul van Hecke – 8: Physical battle with Haaland. Booked for needless foul on the City striker, with the ball already gone. Good tackle on Haaland who was making strides towards goal. Big block to deny Haaland in injury-time.
Maxim De Cuyper – 5: Struggling to cope with Bernardo Silva and fouls the City man twice. In the right place on the goal-line to stop Reijnders’ effort from finding the back of the net. Booked in aftermath of Brighton equaliser for squabble with Donnarumma. Couldn’t find anyone with a cutback after Kadioglu’s ball across goal.
Ferdi Kadioglu – 7: Big chance to open the scoring but couldn’t take it. Put the ball into a great area at 1-1 but just ahead of Mitoma before De Cuyper’s cutback was cleared. Used his head to clear the ball off the line for the second time in as many games. He knows where to be!
Yasin Ayari – 5: Huge let off after he gave the ball away at start of second half but Bernardo unable to finish. Lost the ball under pressure from Foden and Haaland but Van Hecke came to the rescue. Provided the assist for Mitoma with a good pick-out. Guilty of another terrible pass in his own box after 80 minutes and it’s a mystery how Haaland didn’t find the net. Nearly a catastrophic error! Replaced shortly afterwards, counting his lucky stars, I’m sure. TV cameras showed him sitting down and shaking his head on the bench.
Pascal Gross – 6: First start since returning to the club. Deployed as deep-lying midfielder but that didn’t stop him from getting up the pitch early on. The German’s close range header was saved early on. Booked for dissent – he should know better. He quietly went about his business for the rest of the evening, against a relentless City team, with some crucial defensive work.
Diego Gomez – 5: Good start to the match with a fine cross for Gross, which deserved a goal .He showed some good tenacity but also some carelessness on the ball. The Paraguay international gave away the penalty with a clumsy challenge on Doku. It was a blatant spot-kick. Fortunate to avoid a booking for very late challenge on Khusanov.
Kaoru Mitoma – 8: This guy is just a classy operator. The final ball was lacking in the first-half but he proved to be the difference maker after the break, with a lovely finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Booked for late challenge from behind on Foden who was looking to burst clear.
Georginio Rutter – 7: The furthest man forward for Albion and he held the ball up well. Lovely pass to Kadioglu, created a big chance for Turkish international, in the first-half. Fired a ball low across goal and no one was could apply the finishing touch. Replaced by Welbeck for the closing stages of the match.
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