Brajan Gruda delivered late drama at the Amex on Sunday as Brighton shocked Manchester City with a 2-1 comeback victory.
The 19-year-old midfielder sealed the win in the 89th minute, racing through to slot past James Trafford and complete a stunning turnaround for Fabian Hürzeler’s men.
Earlier, veteran James Milner had pulled the Seagulls level from the penalty spot against his old club, becoming the second-oldest scorer in Premier League history.
City had looked in control for much of the game and took the lead when Erling Haaland, on his 100th league appearance, lifted a finish over Bart Verbruggen midway through the first half.
The Norwegian might have had more, wasting two gilt-edged chances before converting, while Oscar Bobb also went close after the break.
Pep Guardiola’s side, already reeling from last weekend’s defeat to Tottenham, appeared on course for three points until Hürzeler’s bold second-half changes altered the contest.
A quadruple substitution injected life into Brighton, with Milner and Gruda making the decisive impact.
The equaliser arrived on 67 minutes after Lewis Dunk’s volley was blocked by the arm of Matheus Nunes.
Milner, at 39 years and 239 days, dispatched the penalty with trademark composure before dedicating the goal in tribute to Diogo Jota. Only Teddy Sheringham has found the net at an older age in the competition.
Brighton pressed relentlessly in the closing stages, with Trafford denying Jan Paul van Hecke from close range.
But Gruda’s decisive strike, set up by Kaoru Mitoma’s clever through-ball, ensured a memorable first league win of the season for the Seagulls.
For City, it was a second successive defeat that leaves Guardiola searching for solutions in a stuttering title defence.
