United Makes it 3 Wins in A Row

Ruben Amorim and The United Strand were given a huge confidence boost as United recorded a third straight Premier League win, this time against bogey side, Brighton. The 4-2 victory was a well deserved one after some good work by Amorim and his boys.

Amorim named a familiar XI with Mbeumo, Cunha and Benjamin Sesko in attack and the Bruno-Casemiro double pivot in midfield with Amad and Dalot as the wingbacks. Fabian Hurzeler made one change from Brighton’s win over Newcastle as he started Maxim De Cuyper on the left wing over Diego Gomez in the continued absence of Kaoru Mitoma who’s still unfit, with Minteh on the right and Georginio Rutter in the 10.

United started brightly, creating pressure from the first whistle. On his 300th appearance for Manchester United, Bruno Fernandes headed wide less than a minute in, showing the team’s attacking intent. Soon after, Amad Diallo was clipped by Maxim De Cuyper in the box, but despite appeals and a VAR check, no penalty was given. Brighton had their own early moment when United’s back line hesitated under pressure, allowing a half-chance that went unpunished.

In the 15th minute, United again appealed for a penalty when Diallo was tripped by De Cuyper, but the referee waved play on. Ten minutes later, United’s persistence paid off. Matheus Cunha broke the deadlock with a low strike from distance that found the bottom corner after a short pass from Casemiro. In the 30th minute, Yankuba Minteh tried to reply for Brighton, darting past Leny Yoro down the left, but his final touch was heavy and United cleared.

The hosts then doubled their lead in the 34th minute. Casemiro tried his luck from 25 yards and his shot deflected off Yasin Ayari to wrong-foot Verbruggen in goal. Brighton’s attempts to build from the back soon led to more trouble, with misplaced passes putting them under pressure. United nearly made it three before the break when a flowing move between Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo ended with Benjamin Šeško firing over.Just before half-time, Brighton had their best chance of the half as Georginio Rutter found himself unmarked at the back post but completely missed the ball. United went into the break 2-0 up and in control.

After the restart, Brighton enjoyed more of the ball between the 50th and 55th minute but lacked the cutting edge to threaten Senne Lammens’ goal and they were punished for their bluntness in the 61st minute as United struck again. Mbeumo received a pass from Sesko after the Slovenian executed a lovely half -turn, took a touch, and drilled a low shot through Lewis Dunk’s legs to make it 3-0. There was some controversy as Luke Shaw appeared to pull Georginio Rutter’s shirt in the buildup, but the goal stood.

Brighton kept the ball but continued to struggle for precision. Ferdi Kadioglu’s overhit pass on 65 minutes summed up their frustration. United then began rotating, with Ayden Heaven replacing Shaw, followed by Patrick Dorgu and Kobbie Mainoo coming on for Amad Diallo and Casemiro in the 70th minute. Brighton also made changes around the hour mark, introducing Diego Gómez for Yasin Ayari and Tom Watson for Maxim De Cuyper to shift momentum. He also brought on James Milner who went one step closer to breaking the Premier League appearance record as this was his 645th appearance, 8 away from the record of 653 set by Gareth Barry.

Brighton’s response finally came in the 74th minute when ex Manchester United player Danny Welbeck scored against them for the umpteenth time by curling a brilliant free-kick over the wall and in to make it 3-1. Brighton kept pressing, enjoying nearly 76% possession but United’s defence held firm.
In the 82nd minute, United brought on Joshua Zirkzee and Manuel Ugarte for Šeško and Mattheus Cunha. Brighton kept pushing, and their pressure paid off deep into stoppage time when substitute Charalampos Kostoulas headed in from a Milner corner to cut the deficit to 3-2 after beating Zirkzee in the air relatively easily.

But United were not done themselves. In the 96th minute, Aydan Heaven played a forward pass towards the box and Bruno Fernandes feinted to touch the ball, freeing Bryan Mbeumo to latch onto the pass before smashing a fierce strike into the top corner to seal the 4-2 win. It was a thrilling finish to a game where United’s sharpness and Brighton’s fight combined for a six-goal contest.

Manchester United’s win showed both their progress and their flaws. They were ruthless when chances came, with Cunha and Mbeumo leading the charge, but they also lost control for spells that let Brighton back in. The substitutions helped steady things late on, and Heaven’s assist for the fourth goal summed up United’s composure under pressure. For Brighton, it was a brave effort undone by defensive lapses and poor finishing. In the end, United’s clinical edge and quick transitions made the difference, securing a deserved 4-2 victory.