On 16 September, one of the matches of the 5th round of the English football championship took place. Man United (England) and Brighton (England) met.
English Championship, 5th round
Man.United (England) - Brighton ( England) - 1:3 ( 0:1 )
Goals: H. Mejbri ( 73) - Brighton (England) - 1:3 (0:1) Goals: H. Mejbri (73) - Welbeck (20), Gross (53), Joao Pedro (71)
Warnings: T. Lamptey (4), J.P. van Hecke (24), Bruno Fernandes (45+3), H. Mejbri (90+2)
In a thrilling Premier League encounter, Manchester United defeated Brighton at their Old Trafford ground. Both teams were determined to get a crucial win, but it was Brighton who came away with a stunning 3-1 victory. The first half started with Brighton going on the attack. In the 4th minute, Tariq Lamptey received a yellow card for a careless challenge. Brighton's persistence paid off in the 20th minute when Danny Welbeck equalised the match with a fantastic goal. The former Manchester United player showed his skill and determination as he skilfully headed the ball past the goalkeeper. In the 24th minute, Manchester United received a yellow card when Brighton's Jan Paul van Hecke was sent off. Brighton's resilient defence showed that they were determined to maintain their advantage. In the 40th minute, Manchester United had a chance to level the score, but Rasmus Højlund's goal was cancelled. The decision left the home side frustrated and expecting their team to take the lead. As tension mounted, emotions flared and in the 45th minute Bruno Fernandes received a yellow card. In the second half, Brighton increased their lead in the 53rd minute thanks to a goal from Pascal Gross. The goal increased the pressure on Manchester United, who now had a two goal lead. In the 64th minute, Manchester United tried to turn the tide of the match by making substitutions. Casemiro and Rasmus Højlund replaced Hannibal Mejbri and Anthony Martial.
Brighton also made changes to their line-up, with Adam Lallana and Danny Welbeck replaced by Ansu Fati and Joao Pedro. However, Brighton continued to dominate the game and in the 71st minute Joao Pedro added to their lead with an excellent strike. Manchester United's defence struggled to contain Brighton's attacking options and the fans were bewildered. In the 73rd minute, Manchester United managed to get one goal back when Hannibal Mejbri got on the scoresheet. The youngster's goal gave hope to the home side and their fans, but time was running out. At the end of the match both teams made further substitutions to freshen up the squads. Brighton introduced Joel Matip and Billy Gilmour in the 77th minute, while Ethan Adingra replaced Sam Gallagher in the 85th minute. For Manchester United, Sergio Regulon, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Facundo Pellistri took the field. With just five minutes to go, frustration took its toll on Hannibal Mejbri, who received a yellow card in the 90th minute. Brighton celebrated a deserved win, while Manchester United were left to reflect on a disappointing performance. The match demonstrated the strengths and weaknesses of both teams, with Brighton's attacking power proving too strong for the home side. This result will be a wake-up call for Manchester United, who need to regroup and come out stronger in their next Premier League matches. Brighton, in turn, will be looking to build on the result and gain momentum in the season.
In the next round of the rivals are waiting for such matches: Burnley - Man United, Brighton - Bournemouth.
| Manchester United | Brighton | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Shots on goal | 8 |
| 14 | Kicks | 10 |
| 6 | Blocked shots | 0 |
| 8 | Penalty kicks | 7 |
| 6 | Penalty kicks | 3 |
| 8 | Offences | 9 |
| 8 | Corner | 1 |
| 4 | Offsides | 1 |
| 44% | Ball possession | 56% |
| 2 | Yellow cards | 2 |
| 0 | Red cards | 0 |
| 5 | Keeper saves | 3 |
| 488 | Total assists | 659 |
| 417 | Accurate assists | 602 |
| 85% | Transmission accuracy | 91% |