Brighton handed Manchester United a bitter defeat with a 2-1 victory, thanks to a dramatic 95th-minute header by Joao Pedro on Saturday. The result marked a triumphant Premier League home debut for Brighton’s 31-year-old manager Fabian Hurzeler, leaving Erik ten Hag’s side with mounting concerns ahead of their clash with Liverpool.
United seemed poised to secure a point after Amad Diallo’s deflected goal equalized Danny Welbeck’s first-half strike. However, Brighton’s Pedro was left unmarked to head in Simon Adingra’s cross in the match’s dying moments, securing three points for the Seagulls. The win leaves Brighton with six perfect points from two matches under Hurzeler, emphasizing their European aspirations.
For Manchester United, this defeat intensifies the pressure on Erik ten Hag. Despite surviving last season with an FA Cup victory, his team’s performance in the first two games of this season has done little to inspire confidence. United’s narrow 1-0 win against Fulham last weekend, thanks to Joshua Zirkzee’s late goal, offered some relief, but their overall form remains questionable.
Ten Hag retained the lineup that faced Fulham, with Zirkzee and Alejandro Garnacho again used as substitutes. Brighton, coming off a 3-0 victory over Everton, demonstrated their intent by taking the lead in the 32nd minute. Harry Maguire failed to intercept a cross, allowing Kaoru Mitoma to set up Welbeck for his 100th career goal.
Manchester United briefly thought they had equalized through Marcus Rashford, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside. Brighton dominated the second half but couldn’t extend their lead. United, largely absent after the break, found a lifeline through Diallo’s deflected strike.
However, a potential winner from Garnacho was ruled out due to Zirkzee’s offside position. This setback proved pivotal, as Brighton capitalized on Pedro’s late goal, leaving United with more questions than answers in defence.
With Liverpool next on the horizon, the spotlight remains firmly on Ten Hag’s struggling squad.
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