United Suffer Third Consecutive Home Defeat to Brighton
Manchester United endured another frustrating afternoon as they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford on Sunday. Despite an early equalizer from Bruno Fernandes, defensive lapses and an Andre Onana mistake proved costly as Brighton secured their third consecutive league victory at United’s home ground.
Match Recap: Brighton Punish United’s Defensive Errors
First Half: Fast Start from Brighton, Fernandes Equalizes
- 1′ – Brighton on the Attack:
- Joao Pedro quickly weaved past Leny Yoro, forcing Harry Maguire to cover him.
- A dangerous through ball towards Danny Welbeck was intercepted by Onana.
- 4′ – Brighton Take the Lead:
- Kaoru Mitoma beat United’s high defensive line before squaring the ball to Yankuba Minteh, who slotted home with ease.
- Brighton 1-0 Manchester United – another early setback for Erik ten Hag’s men.
- 23′ – Penalty for United, Fernandes Converts:
- Joshua Zirkzee was fouled inside the box by Carlos Baleba, earning United a crucial penalty.
- Bruno Fernandes calmly dispatched the spot-kick into the bottom left corner.
- Manchester United 1-1 Brighton – a much-needed response.
- 44′ – Late First-Half Drama:
- Matthijs de Ligt and Manuel Ugarte combined to dispossess Joao Pedro in a last-ditch effort to keep the score level.
Half-Time Score: Manchester United 1-1 Brighton
Second Half: Brighton Take Over
- 51′ – Brighton Have a Goal Disallowed:
- Joao Pedro found the net, but VAR ruled it out for a foul on Diogo Dalot by Jan Paul van Hecke.
- Score remained 1-1.
- 60′ – Mitoma Restores Brighton’s Lead:
- Mitoma beat Mazraoui and finished from close range, beating Onana.
- Brighton 2-1 Manchester United – another defensive lapse costs United.
- 75′ – Onana’s Costly Mistake Gifts Brighton Third Goal:
- A soft cross from Yasin Ayari was parried poorly by Onana, allowing Georginho to tap into an open net.
- Brighton 3-1 Manchester United – an embarrassing moment for the goalkeeper.
Full-Time Score: Manchester United 1-3 Brighton
Player Ratings & Analysis
Manchester United (3-4-2-1 Formation)
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| GK: Andre Onana | 4.5/10 (Critical mistake led to Brighton’s third goal) |
| CB: Leny Yoro | 5.8/10 (Struggled against Brighton’s quick attackers) |
| CB: Matthijs de Ligt | 6.3/10 (Strong presence, but not enough to stop Brighton’s counters) |
| CB: Harry Maguire | 6.2/10 (Decent long passes, but caught out of position multiple times) |
| RM: Diogo Dalot | 6.7/10 (Provided attacking width but struggled defensively) |
| CM: Manuel Ugarte | 6.1/10 (Aggressive in midfield, but overpowered) |
| CM: Kobbie Mainoo | 6.0/10 (Some promising plays, but careless foul led to a dangerous free kick) |
| LM: Noussair Mazraoui | 5.9/10 (Lost his battle with Mitoma before Brighton’s second goal) |
| RF: Amad Diallo | 7.0/10 (United’s brightest spark in attack, good link-up play) |
| LF: Bruno Fernandes | 7.2/10 (Scored the penalty but struggled to create clear chances) |
| ST: Joshua Zirkzee | 6.4/10 (Won the penalty, but lacked finishing touch) |
Substitutes:
- Toby Collyer (65’ for Mainoo): 6.0/10
- Alejandro Garnacho (65’ for Ugarte): 6.3/10
- Rasmus Hojlund (82’ for Zirkzee): 5.8/10
- Antony (82’ for Mazraoui): 5.6/10
🔹 Player of the Match (United): Amad Diallo (7.0/10)
Brighton (4-2-3-1 Formation)
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| GK: Jason Steele | 6.9/10 (Solid performance, saved key shots) |
| RB: Jan Paul van Hecke | 7.0/10 (Assisted Mitoma’s goal, but conceded penalty) |
| CB: Lewis Dunk | 7.5/10 (Organized Brighton’s defense well) |
| CB: Igor Julio | 7.2/10 (Good positioning, stopped United’s attacks) |
| LB: Pervis Estupiñán | 7.3/10 (Contributed to Brighton’s attacking play) |
| CM: Carlos Baleba | 6.8/10 (Yellow card for penalty foul, but solid otherwise) |
| CM: Yasin Ayari | 7.6/10 (Assisted Georginho’s goal, created key chances) |
| RW: Yankuba Minteh | 7.8/10 (Opened the scoring, provided constant threat) |
| CAM: Joao Pedro | 7.9/10 (Controlled the tempo, had a goal disallowed) |
| LW: Kaoru Mitoma | 8.3/10 (Scored Brighton’s second, terrorized United’s defense) |
| ST: Danny Welbeck | 6.8/10 (Held up play well, but no goals) |
Substitutes:
- Georginho (75’ for Welbeck): 7.5/10 (Scored Brighton’s third)
🔹 Player of the Match: Kaoru Mitoma (8.3/10)
Key Takeaways from the Match
✅ Brighton Dominate Again at Old Trafford
- Brighton have now won three straight Premier League games at Old Trafford, showcasing their superior tactical approach against United.
✅ Onana’s Mistake Proves Costly
- A costly parry led directly to Brighton’s third goal, adding more pressure on the United goalkeeper.
✅ Defensive Lapses Hurt United Again
- United’s high line was exposed early, and Mazraoui struggled to contain Mitoma.
✅ Amad Diallo & Bruno Fernandes Only Bright Spots for United
- Amad showed flashes of brilliance, while Fernandes converted his penalty and created chances.
✅ Brighton’s Tactical Superiority Shines Through
- De Zerbi’s pressing and counter-attacks were perfectly executed, punishing United’s mistakes.
What’s Next?
- Manchester United: Must bounce back quickly with tough fixtures ahead in both the Premier League and FA Cup.
- Brighton: Continue their push for European qualification with another statement victory.
FAQs
- Who scored for Brighton?
- Yankuba Minteh, Kaoru Mitoma, and Georginho.
- What mistake did Andre Onana make?
- He parried a routine cross straight to Georginho, allowing an easy Brighton goal.
- How many times have Brighton beaten United at Old Trafford in a row?
- Three consecutive league wins.
- Who was United’s best player?
- Amad Diallo was United’s brightest attacking player.
