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...
ABS clash a must-win, declares Remo Stars striker...
Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar Settles On Arsenal Choice...
Olympics: Buhari charges Rio-bound athletes, team Nigeria officials...
Balotelli brace keeps Nice on top
Neymar back in Brazil to rest and relax—...
Eagles will do talking on pitch – Omeruo...

AFCON 2025: Osimhen, Ndidi, two Super Eagles players leave camp after Egypt win
We Have Already Made A Decision On Future Of Eric Chelle As Super Eagles Coach – NFF
CAF appoints Moroccan for third-place game
Ogunmokun sets new 500m national record
Disappointed Chelle wants bronze medal
PREVIEW: Nigeria target ninth bronze, clash with Egypt in AFCON third-place showdown
Ndidi praises Osimhen, backs Chelle
AFCON: Why Nigeria lost to Morocco – Super Eagles coach, Chelle
‘Incompetent Referee’ - Nigerians blast Ghanaian official over Calvin Bassey’s controversial Yellow Card
Osimhen Explains Super Eagles Defeat To Morocco In AFCON Semi Final
War in Morocco – An AFCON with a special spin
Super Eagles Starting XI Versus Morocco Revealed As Chelle Makes One Critical Change
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,481 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,764 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,665 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,334 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,261 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,172 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,036 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,593 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,772 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,302 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,691 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,159 views)