Brighton vs Manchester United Report
Scorers: Welbeck 32’, Pedro 90+5’; Diallo 60’
João Pedro’s Last-Gasp Header Seals Victory for Brighton Against Manchester United
Brighton & Hove Albion continued their impressive run against Manchester United, securing a dramatic 2-1 victory at the Amex Stadium thanks to João Pedro’s 95th-minute header.
This result marks Brighton‘s fifth consecutive head-to-head (H2H) win over the Red Devils, a streak that reflects their growing confidence under new manager Fabian Hürzeler.
Brighton’s Strong Start to the Season
Both teams entered the match on the back of opening weekend victories. Brighton’s 3-0 demolition of Everton highlighted their attacking prowess, while Manchester United’s late triumph over Fulham showed their resilience.
However, it was the Seagulls who looked the more dominant side from the outset on the South Coast.
Brighton’s first notable effort came around the 10-minute mark when João Pedro tested the United defence with a tame shot from outside the box.
Despite United’s solid but unspectacular performance, Amad Diallo squandered a golden opportunity after being expertly picked out by a Diogo Dalot cross.
Welbeck Strikes First Against Former Club
Brighton, who have been active in the transfer market with seven new signings and possibly more to come, saw one of their experienced players break the deadlock.
In the 31st minute, Kaoru Mitoma delivered a low cross that former United player Danny Welbeck bundled home, giving the hosts a deserved lead.
United thought they had levelled the score shortly after, but Marcus Rashford’s close-range effort was ruled out for offside, much to the relief of the Brighton faithful.
United’s Response and Missed Opportunities
The second half saw United struggle to impose themselves initially, with Brighton nearly doubling their lead when Welbeck’s header struck the crossbar.
However, the visitors eventually found their rhythm and equalised around the 60th minute. A clever through ball from Noussair Mazraoui found Diallo, whose shot deflected off Jan Paul Van Hecke and into the net.
Both teams continued to press for a winner in a thrilling end-to-end contest. Brighton appeared to have the upper hand in one particular sequence, but poor decision-making from Yankuba Minteh allowed United to launch a counterattack.
Substitute Joshua Zirkzee thought he had scored the winner, but his effort was disallowed for offside, much to the frustration of Erik ten Hag’s side.
Pedro’s Late Heroics Ensure Brighton’s Perfect Start
As the match seemed destined for a draw, João Pedro rose unmarked in the 95th minute to head home a chipped ball from Adingra, sending the home crowd into delirium.
The victory means Brighton have now won their opening two games of the season, a perfect start for Hürzeler as he looks to build on the club’s recent success.
For Manchester United, the loss will be a bitter pill to swallow, especially given their inability to see out the game in its final stages. Erik ten Hag will need to address these issues quickly if his side are to challenge for top honours this season.
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