Brighton continued their mastery of Manchester United with a deserved victory at Old Trafford this afternoon.
On a day in which United honored the memory of the great Denis Law, who passed away on Friday, the Seagulls emerged worthy victors as Ruben Amorim’s worries continued with another lackluster performance from him.
Yankuba Minteh put Brighton ahead and, although Bruno Fernandes equalized from the penalty spot, Kauro Mitoma and Georginio Rutter added second-half goals for Fabian Hurzeler’s side.
FT: ALBION WINS AGAIN AT OLD TRAFFORD! 🙌
[1-3] 📲 #MUNBHA // #BHAFC 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/PjwnJQwfM5
– Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) January 19, 2025
Shambolic Onana symbolizes United’s problems
Rutter’s goal came after a terrible error from United goalkeeper Andre Onana and summed up the misery of the hosts who lost to Brighton for the eighth time in 16 Premier League meetings.
United went into the game with plenty of momentum after Amad Diallo’s late hat-trick saw them beat Southampton on Thursday night, but the atmosphere collapsed early on when Mitoma got past Noussair Mazraoui and crossed for Minteh can enter.
Fernandes was already close to an equalizer with a shot that went wide before the Portugal international leveled things from the spot.
A loose pass from Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen was intercepted by Diallo, who played it to the recalled Joshua Zirkzee only for the Dutchman to be brought down by Carlos Baleba.
Fernandes sent Verbruggen the wrong way from 12 yards, rolling him into the bottom left corner.
Brighton played largely on the counter, but it was an approach that paid off and they almost restored their lead shortly before half-time.
Minteh spotted Dany Welbeck inside the box, but the former United striker was denied a goal on his return to Old Trafford by a brilliant block from defender Diogo Dalot.
Effort excluded by VAR
Brighton thought they had scored again eight minutes after the restart, Joao Pedro shooting after United failed to clear Yasin Ayari’s free-kick only for the goal to be ruled out by VAR following a foul on Dalot by Jan Paul van Hecke.
But they were not to be denied at the hour mark.
Minteh sent the ball to the far post and Mitoma did enough to ignore Mazraoui’s challenge and return the ball.
United looked for another equalizer but Zirkzee’s shot, after a Diallo run, was blocked by Van Hecke.
It was a pivotal moment as Brighton went down the other side quickly and finished the contest with a third goal.
Onana thought he had cleared the danger by coming out to collect Ayari’s cross but, after first collecting it, he let go of the ball and Rutter had the simple task of firing into an empty net.
Amorim started Antony, who is set to end his miserable spell at United with a loan move to Real Betis, and Rasmus Hojlund, which has brought some life back into United’s attacking play.
Diallo forced Verbruggen into a low save before another substitute, Alejandro Garnacho, shot wide when he was well placed.
Their efforts came to nothing, however, as Brighton held on with relative ease to hand United a fourth defeat in seven games in all competitions.
The Seagulls are ninth, just four points off the Champions League places, with United in 13th.
