Manchester United vs Brighton Report
Scorers: Fernandes 23’ (P); Minteh 5’, Mitoma 60’, Rutter 76’
Brighton & Hove Albion claimed an impressive 3-1 victory at Old Trafford, marking Manchester United‘s third consecutive home defeat to the Seagulls in the Premier League (PL) – a rare and ignominious milestone in the Red Devils’ history.
First Half: A Fast Start and Quick Response
Looking to build on their victory over Ipswich Town, Brighton wasted no time asserting themselves.
Just five minutes in, Carlos Baleba’s long pass sent Kaoru Mitoma racing behind United’s defence, and the Japanese winger selflessly squared the ball for Yankuba Minteh to tap in for the opener.
However, United showed resolve and were back on terms quickly. A loose clearance from Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen led to Baleba fouling Joshua Zirkzee in the penalty area.
Captain Bruno Fernandes stepped up and calmly converted from the spot, equalising in the 14th minute.
The rest of the half saw chances for both sides, but two United efforts were ruled offside, keeping the game delicately poised at 1-1 heading into the break.
Second Half: Brighton’s Quality Shines Through
Brighton believed they had regained the lead shortly after the restart when João Pedro found the net after some scrappy play in the box, but VAR ruled the goal out due to a foul by Jan Paul van Hecke on Diogo Dalot.
Undeterred, the Seagulls pressed on, and Kaoru Mitoma restored their advantage in the 60th minute. The Japanese international latched onto Minteh’s cross at the back post, etching his name in the record books as the highest-scoring Japanese player in PL history.
Manchester United sought a response but were hampered by a lack of creativity and a resolute Brighton defence. The game was effectively put to bed in the 76th minute following a blunder by André Onana. The United goalkeeper fumbled a routine cross, gifting Georginio Rutter the simplest of finishes to make it 3-1.
What This Means
- Manchester United: A third consecutive home defeat to Brighton leaves United languishing in 13th, with only one point separating them from the relegation zone. Erik ten Hag faces growing pressure as the team struggles for form, particularly against higher-pressing sides.
- Brighton: Back-to-back league wins propel Fabian Hürzeler’s side to ninth in the table, with European football once again in sight for the ambitious Seagulls.
Looking Ahead
- Manchester United: Ten Hag must quickly regroup as his side prepares for a challenging away clash with Fulham next weekend, with questions mounting over Onana’s performances and their defensive vulnerabilities.
- Brighton: The Seagulls will look to build on this momentum in their next fixture – at home vs Everton – as they aim to maintain their upward trajectory in the league standings.
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