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...
Tyson denied entry to Chile
NPFL: 3SC claim maximum points as Jimoh’s strike...
UEFA considers change to way penalty shootouts are...
Osimhen confirms October 19 return
Ighalo Boosts Al Shabab’s Saudi Pro League Title...
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly calls for Premier League...

Nnadozie tops WSL keepers’ chart
FULL LIST: Unai Simón joins World Cup clean-sheet greats as Barthez, Shilton remain joint leaders
Ashe declares readiness for Commonwealth Games
Amusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spot
Nigerians demand NFF overhaul after Eagles’ W’Cup absence
France, Spain battle for place in World Cup final
NSC hails Junior D’Tigers after AfroBasket qualification
Nigeria beat Burundi in Billie Jean King Cup opener
Falcons storm Casablanca camp ahead of WAFCON
Nwabali returns to Chippa United
I won’t let Pillars down – Ogunmodede
NSC allays fears over Chelle’s Eagles future
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,952 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,292 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (53,204 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,810 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,693 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,562 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,451 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,968 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (51,186 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,653 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (48,130 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,520 views)