Yasin Ayari put Brighton in front at Manchester City on Saturday afternoon, scoring early in their Premier League meeting at the Etihad Stadium, according to 101 Great Goals. The Sweden international struck for Fabian Hurzeler's side after a cross into the City box was deflected into his path. Ayari took the chance to give the visitors a 1-0 lead, leaving Enzo Maresca's team chasing the game as they tried to keep their strong home record intact.
Why it matters
The goal arrived against a City side that had lost its unbeaten start to the league season the previous weekend, and it came from a Brighton team arriving in Manchester as the division's leading scorers. According to 101 Great Goals, the Seagulls had found the net 23 times across their first eight league fixtures. An early lead at the Etihad therefore carried weight beyond the scoreline: it tested City's response at home and rewarded Brighton's habit of starting matches strongly.
A familiar fast start against City
This was not the first time Brighton had troubled City at the Etihad in the same week. The two clubs had met there in the Carabao Cup only three days earlier, and 101 Great Goals reports that Brighton went ahead twice in that game through Malick Yalcouye and Georginio Rutter. City fought back to level at 2-2 and advanced on penalties.
