Manchester United suffered a humiliating 3-1 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford, marking their third consecutive home loss to the Seagulls. Despite an early equalizer from Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United’s defensive frailties and a critical error from Andre Onana handed Brighton a deserved victory.
Brighton’s Early Domination and Manchester United’s Response
Brighton wasted no time asserting themselves, launching a dangerous attack just two minutes into the game. Joao Pedro navigated past Leny Yoro, forcing Harry Maguire into a covering position before Andre Onana intervened to cut off Danny Welbeck’s through ball. However, United’s shaky defense was soon exposed.
In the fourth minute, Brighton broke the deadlock. Kaoru Mitoma capitalized on United’s high defensive line, slipping past the offside trap and squaring a perfect ball to Yankuba Minteh, who slotted home the opening goal. United, stunned by yet another poor start, struggled to find a rhythm as Brighton’s disciplined defense limited their chances.
Manchester United finally found a breakthrough in the 23rd minute when Amad Diallo’s persistence won a penalty after Joshua Zirkzee was pulled down in the box by Carlos Noom Quomah Baleba. Captain Bruno Fernandes stepped up and confidently converted, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to level the score at 1-1.
A Tight First Half Ends Level
As Manchester United pushed forward in search of a second goal, they showed flashes of attacking promise. In the 32nd minute, Fernandes launched a brilliant cross-field pass to Noussair Mazraoui, whose through ball found Amad Diallo. Unfortunately, the young winger was quickly dispossessed before he could threaten Brighton’s goal.
Just before halftime, Manchester United had another golden opportunity. Manuel Ugarte delivered a pinpoint long ball to Amad, who appeared to have beaten the offside trap. Although he got past the goalkeeper, he was too close to the byline to generate a meaningful shot. Moments later, Fernandes whipped in a free kick from the right, finding Harry Maguire, but his header went wide, leaving the score at 1-1 going into the break.
Brighton Take Control in the Second Half
Manchester United started the second half with renewed intensity, but Brighton gradually regained control. In the 51st minute, Yasin Ayari’s free kick led to chaos in the Manchester United penalty area. The ball eventually fell to Joao Pedro, who scored, but VAR ruled it out after reviewing a foul on Diogo Dalot by Jan Paul van Hecke.
Manchester United’s relief was short-lived. In the 60th minute, Brighton restored their lead through Kaoru Mitoma. Yankuba Minteh delivered a sharp cross, and the Japanese winger capitalized on Noussair Mazraoui’s defensive lapse, finishing from close range past Onana. The mistake left Mazraoui crashing into the post in frustration as Brighton celebrated their 2-1 lead.
Manchester United struggled to respond effectively, with Fernandes sending a wayward shot wide after a well-placed long ball from Maguire. Manager Ruben Amorim reacted by introducing Alejandro Garnacho and Toby Collyer for Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo, hoping to inject fresh energy into the attack.
Manchester United’s Alarming Statistical Decline
The latest defeat adds to a concerning statistical downturn for Manchester United. Their six home league defeats this season are their highest tally from the opening 12 home matches since the 1893-94 campaign, highlighting their inability to make Old Trafford a fortress. Additionally, they have now conceded the opening goal in each of their last five home league games, equaling their longest such run in Premier League history.
Furthermore, Manchester United have now lost 10 of their 22 league games this season, the earliest they have reached double figures for defeats since the 1989-90 season under Sir Alex Ferguson. With Champions League qualification slipping further out of reach, Ruben Amorim faces mounting pressure to turn things around before the season spirals completely out of control.
Onana’s Blunder Seals United’s Fate
Any hope of a Manchester United comeback evaporated in the 75th minute following a disastrous mistake by Onana. Yasin Ayari delivered what should have been a routine cross into the box, but Onana fumbled the catch, gifting substitute Georginho a simple tap-in to make it 3-1 for Brighton. The Old Trafford crowd was left in stunned silence as United’s defensive calamities continued.
Despite late substitutions, including Rasmus Højlund and Antony replacing Zirkzee and Mazraoui, United failed to mount a serious challenge. Brighton remained compact at the back, repelling a series of hopeful crosses as United’s attacks fizzled out. After eight minutes of stoppage time, the final whistle confirmed another painful defeat for United, marking their third consecutive home loss to Brighton—an embarrassing statistic for a club of United’s stature.
Manchester United’s Defensive Frailties Exposed Again
Starting matches slowly has become a recurring issue for United, and this game was no exception. Within the first five minutes, Brighton exposed their defensive vulnerabilities as Mitoma raced behind the backline and squared the ball for Minteh to finish clinically. This marked the third time in five home games that Manchester United had conceded inside the opening five minutes—a worrying trend for Amorim’s side.
Despite an improved spell before halftime, during which Amad Diallo’s pressing forced a foul on Joshua Zirkzee that led to Fernandes’ penalty equalizer, United never looked in control. Their defensive fragility was evident again in the second half, as Brighton’s relentless pressure forced mistakes. A disallowed goal for Joao Pedro momentarily spared Manchester United, but they soon crumbled when Minteh turned provider, setting up Mitoma for Brighton’s second goal.
