By Daily Sports on July 12, 2020
Raheem Sterling scored his third hat-trick of the season as Manchester City swept Brighton aside to ensure they will finish in second place in the Premier League.
City had lost their three previous away league games, including a defeat at Southampton last Sunday, but they never looked like suffering another slip-up on their return to the south coast.
Sterling, who now has 27 goals in all competitions for City this season, inflicted most of the damage on a Brighton side who never managed to make the game a contest.
The England forward put Pep Guardiola’s side ahead with a superb low finish from outside the area, collecting a Gabriel Jesus flick and cutting in from the left before firing into the opposite corner of the net.
More chances followed for City, and Jesus had a shot deflected against the bar before he got on the end of Rodri’s knockdown from a corner to make it 2-0.
The punishment did not end there for the Seagulls, as City continued to pour forward with Kevin de Bruyne pulling the strings, although a 19th league assist of the season eluded him
The Belgian fired a free-kick against the post after half-time and it was his driving forward run that led to Riyad Mahrez crossing for Sterling to head home City's third goal at the far post.
Moments later it was 4-0, when Mat Ryan spilled Bernardo Silva's shot and the Portuguese followed up to tap home.
Sterling, whose previous hat-tricks came against West Ham and Italian side Atalanta, had the final word in bizarre fashion when he chased a pass into the area and saw the ball bounce off the back of his head and cross the line as he was challenged by Ryan.
Brighton were completely outclassed and did not manage a single shot on target. (BBC)
•PHOTO: Raheem Sterling
Source Daily Sports
Posted July 12, 2020
You may also like...
Nwabali equals Ogedegbe’s 44-year AFCON record
Big Test For Manchester United As Tottenham Hotspur...
Bale sets Real Madrid record for fastest Champions...
Para-Athletes, Coach Commend Sports Minister Over Palliatives
Premier League move a must before retirement —...
England Beat Kosovo in Eight-Goal Thriller

Belgium thrash New Zealand 5-1, through to World Cup last 32
World Cup: Cape Verde to face Argentina in knockouts after Saudi draw
Lawal questions NFF ability to sustain Chelle’s $100k salary
Ogazi turns pro after landmark NCAA career
Davnotch pledge support for Tennis in Nigeria
Morocco break two Eagles’ Mundial records
Upsets as Prime Atlantic Squash tourney enters semis
Ecuador beat Germany 2-1 to reach World Cup last 32
Saibari sets African World Cup milestone
Adeshina makes Bowerman Award semis
Six Nigerians earn picks at 2026 NBA Draft
Japan coach hopes World Cup success inspires Asian rivals
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,917 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,251 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (53,163 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,767 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,653 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,525 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,412 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,939 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (51,144 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,614 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (48,091 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,491 views)