EPL: Man City Stumble Against Brighton, Nottingham Forest Soar Over Ipswich

After twice extending their lead to draw 2-2 against Brighton, Manchester City failed to ease worries about missing out on the Champions League while third-placed Nottingham Forest defeated Ipswich 4-2 on Saturday to put an end to their campaign.

City won the match thanks to Pervis Estupinan’s free kick and an Abdukodir Khusanov own goal, but Brighton quickly extended their unbeaten run to seven games with Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush.

After a difficult season for a team that is known for winning the league title, City boss Pep Guardiola declared on Friday that winning the Champions League just next year would be a “big success.”

After overcoming Real Madrid’s early exit from Europe, Guardiola’s men were able to recover from last weekend’s disappointing 1-0 defeat at Forest.

Marmoush was reinstated in the starting lineup, and the result was City’s most promising youngster.

Haaland’s 29th goal of the season came from the penalty that the Egyptian won.

The City goal was only 10 minutes long when Estupinan curled a free-kick past Stefan Ortega, who was on his last minute.

Before half-time, Marmoush fired a long-range header past City to put the game in front.

However, Brighton equalized again just three minutes later when Khusanov turned Jack Hinshelwood’s shot into his own net.

City pushed in vain for a winner as Nico Gonzalez hit the post.

Thanks to English clubs’ outstanding performances in European competition, a top-five Premier League title will almost certainly guarantee a Champions League spot this year.

City is now fifth, one point ahead of Brighton in seventh, with a point.

Champions League final for Forest.

The formidable forest pic. twitter.com/t0o8El6OcZ

For the first time since 1980, Forest led a dominant display at Portman Road, leading to the first time since 1980.

In six first-half minutes, the visitors scored three goals to move Arsenal within one point of second-placed Arsenal and six clear of City.

The floodgates were opened by Nikola Milenkovic after controlling a loose ball inside the area.

At the conclusion of a blistering Forest counter-attack, Anthony Elanga scored his first goal since Boxing Day.

Elanga sprinted clear and slotted his second goal of the afternoon into the dreadful Ipswich defense two minutes later.

Both Jota Silva’s fourth goal and Jens Cajuste and George Hirst’s late consolation goals for Kieran McKenna’s men and Forest.

With a 2-1 victory over Southampton, Wolves resurrected their dwindling position to take control of the drop while Ipswich’s uphill task suffered yet another blow.

In the absence of Matheus Cunha, who has been suspended, Jorgen Strand Larsen headed in a header from Jean-Ricner Bellegarde’s cross on 19 minutes.

Strand Larsen scored his ninth goal of the season when the two players met early in the second half.

Southampton are still on course to record the Premier League’s worst points total ever scored thanks to Paul Onuachu’s goal.

Jake O’Brien’s 90th-minute equalizer against West Ham gave Everton a 1-1 draw that extended their unbeaten streak to nine games.

Both teams now have 34 points, 17 clear of the relegation zone, after Tomas Soucek opened the scoring at Goodison Park.

Source: Channels TV