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...
Tuchel Extends Unbeaten Start With Chelsea After Snatching...
SPORTS LAW with AMOBI EZEAKU, Esq.: Contractual Stability:...
Griezman sparkles as Athletico demolish Marseille to win...
Moyes leaves West Ham after just 6 months...
A look at the Super Eagles 2018 World...
Vardy Shines As Leicester Spank West Brom

EKO 2026 to drive school sports development – LOC
Aduku declares Falconets ready for U-20 World Cup
Adeniji crowned best boxer at LBHF Ikorodu
LSGA champions inclusion with Leadership Cup
Ndidi makes entrepreneurial debut with DIIDS launch
Messi legacy will live forever, says Beckham
D’Tigers World Cup dream still alive – Fizdale
Stakeholders call for local reforms in Nigerian football
I’ll rather chew grass, Okocha denies biting Portable
NPFL: Ikorodu City take early lead after opening-day win
D’Tigers crush Cape Verde 100-84, revive World Cup hopes
Djokovic crashes out of US Open first round
Rangers International going, going . . . (64,067 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,427 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (53,312 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,913 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,791 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,667 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,574 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (52,085 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (51,276 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,750 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (48,236 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,620 views)