Brilliant Brighton scored a stunning 3-1 win against Manchester United as Erik ten Hag’s team continued to struggle.
Brilliant Brighton scored a stunning 3-1 win at Manchester United as Erik ten Hag’s side went from bad to worse after a testy fortnight.
Following the humiliating, last-gasp loss at Arsenal, Jadon Sancho has been barred from the first-team squad, and Antony has been granted a leave of absence.
Brighton piled more agony on United on Saturday afternoon, with Danny Welbeck, Pascal Gross, and Joao Pedro scoring before Hannibal Mejbri’s consolation attempt.
The comprehensive end of the Red Devils’ 31-game unbeaten home run in all competitions came against the side that last beat them in the league at Old Trafford in Ten Hag’s first match in charge.
Welbeck opened the scoring against his former club, before a Marcus Rashford strike hit the woodwork and Rasmus Hojlund’s first goal for the club was ruled out by the VAR.
Gross netted both goals in last season’s Old Trafford win and fired Roberto De Zerbi’s men further ahead early in the second half, before substitute Pedro landed another body blow.
Boos greeted Ten Hag’s decision to replace full debutant Hojlund with Anthony Martial, but fellow introduction Hannibal did his part by scoring his first goal for the club from distance.
But there would be no stirring comeback like the one seen in United’s previous home game against Nottingham Forest, as the focus now shifts to Wednesday’s Champions League encounter at Bayern Munich.
Brighton have a historic Europa League match against AEK Athens to look forward to having only winning at Old Trafford twice in their history.
De Zerbi surprisingly made six changes on Saturday, when Ten Hag made three and plumped for a midfield diamond that caused the visitors early problems.
Rashford’s skill and perseverance ended with a low drive being saved by Jason Steele and Hojlund headed over, before nearly combining when the new boy stretched for the homegrown star’s cross.
But De Zerbi’s team remained calm and took the lead in the 20th minute after a well-worked play.
Welbeck broke into the area after playing wide to Simon Adingra, whose low pass from the right was cleverly left by Adam Lallana for the 32-year-old to smash home.
Brighton fans got a spring in their step after the opener, and the goalscorer tried his luck from distance, with United giving little in response until the 34th minute.
Brilliant Brighton scored a stunning 3-1 win against Manchester United as Erik ten Hag’s team continued to struggle.
Casemiro sent the ball out to Rashford on the left, who darted inside and got away with a drive that Joel Veltman pushed onto the woodwork with an unusual block.
United recovered from that scare by scoring an equalizer five minutes before the break.
Following stepovers, Rashford darted to the byline and pulled back for Hojlund, who twisted and prodded in what appeared to be his first goal for United.
But, with the score at 1-1, referee Jarred Gillett was advised by VAR Chris Kavanagh that the ball had gone out of play before Rashford could complete the pass.
The England international remained dangerous and went close in stoppage time before striking into the sidenetting when the second half began.
Brighton, on the other hand, was still pursuing a second, and their warning shots over the bows went unheeded.
Gross took Tariq Lamptey’s pass right inside the box, sent Lisandro Martinez flying with a drop of the shoulder, and fizzed past Andre Onana in front of the away crowd.
Ten Hag moved to his bench after United’s 53rd-minute effort, but the choice to replace Hojlund with Martial was clearly controversial.
Rashford’s free-kick was saved as the hosts urgently tried to come back, only to be hit by a third Brighton goal in the 71st minute.
Lamptey sprinted down the left and cut back for Pedro, who opened his body to shoot a first-time, right-footed effort that Onana couldn’t keep out of the net.
Punch-drunk United equalized almost immediately, thanks to youngster Hannibal, who lasered a 25-yard effort past Steele two minutes later.
Victor Lindelof headed over, but smart Brighton were able to take the sting out of the proceedings by exploiting gaps created by the frantic hosts.
Kaoru Mitoma, substitute Evan Ferguson and debutant Ansu Fati saw shots saved as the clock wound down. Onana stopped the latter again in stoppage time.
